Watertown, Aberdeen Central set to compete in Eastern S.D. Conference meet at Brookings
The 99th Howard Wood Dakota Relays concluded Saturday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, and that signals the start of a busy week of conference track and field meets for area athletes.
The Eastern Coteau, Lake Central, 281 and Lake Region conference meets are all set for Tuesday with the Northeast and Big East meets on tap for Thursday. The Eastern South Dakota and Central South Dakota Conference meets wrap up the week on Saturday.
The only remaining conference meet after that is the Dakota Valley Conference meet on Thursday, May 16.
Here's a look at each of the area conference meets:
Eastern South Dakota Conference
Watertown and Aberdeen Central's boys and girls are among the nine schools that will compete in the conference meet at Brookings on Saturday. Field events start at 10 a.m. and running events at 1 p.m.
Arrow highlights at Howard Wood included a runner-up finish by Owen Spartz in the pole vault (15-6). Boaz Raderschadt took fourth in the boys' shot put (56-0) and Malia Kranz third in the girls' shot put (42-3.5) and fourth in the discus (134-6).
MaKenna Blank, Alayna Smith, Hayden Thomas and Anna Hirtz (50.62) took eighth in the Class AA girls' 400-meter relay and Jerome Zebroski, Eve Hauger, Victoria Smith and Jeremiah Schulte eighth in the coed 1,600 relay (3:51.34).
Grace McElroy finished 10th in the open girls 3,200-meter run, but broke Jessica Fox's 1999 school record (11:18) with a clocking of 11:08.55.
It was only the fourth meet of the season for the Arrows, who finished seventh (girls) and eighth (boys) in the 2023 ESD meet.
"If you look at the beginning of the year, we were doing some pretty good things," Watertown head caoch Chad Rohde said. "We have some kids who are running pretty well, but the teams in the south have a lot more meets under their belts than we do."
Brandon Valley has won the ESD girls division championship nine years in a row and the Lynx have also won the boys division the past two years. Harrisburg finished second and Aberdeen Central in both divisions a year ago and could challenge again.
Returning ESD place winners for Watertown's include Spartz, the two-time defending champion in the pole vault; Raderschadt (fourth in shot put and fifth in discus) and Simon Hendricks (seventh in javelin). Victoria Smith was sixth in the 400 dash, Andi Olson eighth in 800 run, Kate McElroy seventh in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, Kranz third in discus, Paige McAreavey sventh in discus and Ericka Wolley tied for eighth in pole vault for Watertown's girls in 2023.
Taryn Hermansen placed fifth in the girls' shot put (41-3.75) and Ciara Frank seventh in the girls' long jump (17-5) for Aberdeen Central in the Howard Wood Dakota Relays.
Returning ESD place winners for Aberdeen Central's boys include Tyler Bain, the defending champion in the high jump; Avery Ligon, eighth in 100 dash; David VanVeen, seventh in 800 run and fourth in 1,600; Christian Wells, fifth in 3,200; Jett Carlson, fifth in javelin; and Brendan Phillips, second in high jump.
Grace Kuch (discus) and Regan Lust (high jump) are returning individual event champions for Aberdeen Central's girls. Kuch also was second in the javelin and fifth in the shot put and Lust fourth in the long jump. Other returning place winners are Gracie Rife, fifth in 100 and eighth in 200; Juna Ramey, sixth in 1,600 run; Madison Hochstetter, fourth in 100 hurdles and tied for third in high jump; Mya Arampatzis, sixth in 300 hurdles; Hermansen, second in shot put; Taryn Nieman, sixth in shot put; Frank, second in high jump and long jump; Kiara Joerger, fifth in the pole vault; Breckan Santjer, tied for sixth in the pole vault; and Lucy Fritz, eighth in the long jump. The complete ESD track meet schedule and event records are listed at the bottom of the story.
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Eastern Coteau Conference
When and Where — Tuesday at Britton. Field events start at 1 p.m., track events at 2 p.m.
Schools Competing — Britton-Hecla, Florence-Henry, Great Plains Lutheran, Tri-State, Waubay-Summit, Waverly-South Shore and Wilmot.
Defending Team Champions — Great Plains Lutheran has won the boys division 17 straight years and the girls division 13 straight years.
Returning Event Winners — Boys: Micah Holien (100- and 400-meter dashes) and Lucas Johnson of Great Plains Lutheran (high jump), Jayven Maag of Waubay-Summit (3,200 run) and Brady Eschen of Waverly-South Shore (discus). Girls: Abigail Lee of Britton-Hecla (triple jump), Taylor Watson of Florence-Henry (800 run), Shali Laurence of Tri-State (discus) and Abby Kjenstad (high jump), Katherine Prahl (100 hurdles), Sophie Kannas (100 and 200 dashes) and Halle Bauer (1,600 and 3,200 runs) of Great Plains Lutheran.
Lake Central Conference
When and Where — Tuesday at De Smet. Field events start at 2 p.m. and track events at 3 p.m.
Schools Competing — Clark-Willow Lake, De Smet, Deuel, Flandreau, Hamlin and Sioux Valley.
Defending Team Champions —Sioux Valley’s girls and boys.
Returning Event Winners — Boys: Oliver Fieber (100 dash) and Gabe Sather of Deuel (pole vault), Lane Tvedt of Castlewood (long jump), Zac VanMeeteren of Hamlin (200 and 400 dashes) and Skylar Trygstad (1,600 run), Donovan Rose (110 and 300 hurdles) and Braden Danzeisen (triple jump) of Sioux Valley.
Lake Region Conference
When and Where — Tuesday at Ipswich. Field events start at 10:30 a.m. and track events at 11:30 a.m.
Schools Competing — Aberdeen Christian, Faulkton Area, Frederick Area, Ipswich, Langford Area, Leola, North Central, Northwestern and North Central.
Defending Team Champions — Ipswich’s girls and boys have swept the last six LRC meets. The streak is actually 17 straight for the girls and 14 of 17 for the boys.
Returning Event Winners — Boys: Trevor Heinz (100 dash and long jump) and Maxwell Kulesa (800 run) of Ipswich, Lincoln Woodring of Northwestern (1,600 run), Milo Sumption of Frederick Area (3,200 run), Spencer Meliusa of Faulkton Area (300 hurdles) and Dustin Wurtz of Leola (discus). Girls: Shawnteah La Croix of Aberdeen Christian (100 and and 200 dashes), Ashley Haven (400 dash) and Ella Boekelheide of Northwestern (800 and 1,600 runs), Kennadee Wagner (3,200 run) and Sophia Hoeft (high jump) of Warner, Kaidence Bulgin (100 hurdles) and Lindsey Geier (long jump) of North Central, Marley Guthmiller of Ipswich (300 hurdles) and Savanna Hayes of Faulkton Area (shot put and discus).
281 Conference
When and Where — Tuesday at Tiger Stadium in Huron. Field events start at 10 a.m., track events at noon.
Schools Competing — Highmore-Harrold, Hitchcock-Tulare, Ipswich-Lake Preston, James Valley Christian, Sanborn Central-Woonsocket, Sunshine Bible Academy, Wessington Springs and Wolsey-Wessington.
Defending Team Champions —Wolsey-Wessington’s boys (two in row) and girls (at least three in a row).
Returning Area Event Winners — Boys: Erik Salmen (shot put and discus) and Brendan Nowell (triple jump) of Hitchcock-Tulare. Girls: Hadlee Holt (discus) and Adison Moore (100 and 200 dashes) of Iroquois-Lake Preston.
Northeast Conference
When and Where — Thursday at Sisseton. Field events start at 11 a.m., track events at noon.
Schools Competing — Aberdeen Roncalli, Britton-Hecla, Clark-Willow Lake, Deuel, Groton Area, Hamlin, Milbank, Redfield, Sisseton, Tiospa Zina and Webster Area.
Defending Team Champions — Milbank’s boys have won six-straight NEC titles and Milbank’s girls two in a row.
Returning Event Winners — Boys: Oliver Fieber (100 dash) and Gave Sather (110 hurdles) of Deuel, James Batchelor of Milbank (3,200 run) and Gavin Witt (200 dash), Jeron McCreary (300 hurdles and high jump), Matthew Mount (shot put) and Jacob Keller (triple jump) of Webster Area. Girls: Jacy Dexter (pole vault) and Nadia Thue (300 hurdles) of Milbank, Shayne Fritz (high jump) 0f Hamlin, Jaycee Hourigan of Deuel (3,200 run) and Kamryn Nesheim (800 and 1,600 runs) and Sara Thonvold (300 hurdles) of Clark-Willow Lake.
Big East Conference
When and Where — Thursday at Baltic. Field events start at noon, track events at 3 p.m.
Schools Competing —Baltic, Beresford, Chester Area, Flandreau, Garretson, McCook Central-Montrose, Parker and Sioux Valley.
Defending Team Champions —Sioux Valley swept the team titles in 2023.
Returning Sioux Valley Event Winners — Boys: Donovan Rose (100 dash and 110 and 300 hurdles). Girls: Emma Gorvin (high jump).
Central South Dakota Conference
When and Where — Saturday at Miller. Field events start at 10 a.m. and track events at noon.
Schools Competing — Faulkton Area, Highmore-Harrold, Miller, Mobridge-Pollock, Potter County Sunshine Bible Academy and Sully Buttes.
Defending Team Champions — Mobridge-Pollock’s boys and girls won in 2022. The meet was cancelled in 2023.
Dakota Valley Conference
When and Where — Thursday, May 16 at Estelline. Field events start at noon, track events at 1:30 p.m.
Schools Competing — Arlington, Castlewood, Colman-Egan, Dell Rapids St. Mary, De Smet, Deubrook Area, Elkton-Lake Benton, Estelline-Hendricks, Iroquois-Lake Preston and Oldham-Ramona-Rutland.
Defending Team Champions — Colman-Egan’s girls and Elkton-Lake Benton’s boys have each won the past three conference titles.
Returning Event Winners — Boys: Gavin Landmark of Deubrook Area (800 run), Lucas Flemmer of Dell Rapids St. Mary (100, 200 and 400 dashes), Jack Mousel of Colman-Egan (high jump), Jake Burns of Arlington (pole vault), Lane Tvedt of Castlewood (long jump) and Nate Timm (1,600 and 3,200 runs), Blake DeVries (100 and 300 hurdles) and Tanner Drietz (triple jump) of Elkton-Lake Benton. Girls: Nora Olsen of Deubrook Area (1,600 run), Sadie Johnson of Estelline-Hendricks (300 hurdles and pole vault), Hadlee Holt of Iroquois-Lake Preston (shot put), Jaycee TeBay of Dell Rapids St. Mary (discus), Harley Johnson of Arlington (long jump) and Elaina Rhode (100 hurdles), Daniela Lee (100 and 200 dashes), Anna Zwart (javelin) and Lanie Mousel (triple jump) of Colman-Egan.
2024 ESD Track Meet Schedule, Records
Saturday at the Brookings High School Track Complex
• Note — All-time meet records listed in parentheses.
FIELD EVENTS
10 a.m.
Boys Discus (George Amundson, Aberdeen Central, 189-3, 1969), followed by Girls Discus (Karen McDonald, Pierre, 157-3, 1980).
Boys High Jump (Jason Sutherland, Watertown, 7-0, 1992), followed by Girls High Jump (Alayna Falak, Watertown, 5-8, 2019).
Girls Javelin (Kaitlyn Disbrow, Harrisburg, 110-8, 2022)., followed by Boys Javelin (Carson Barnett, Harrisburg, 168-2).
Girls Long Jump (Alexis Gannon, Brookings 2014, and Emma Stewart, Yankton 2016, 18-1.5), followed by Boys Long Jump (Josh Olson, Watertown, 23-1.25, 2003).
Boys Pole Vault (Owen Spartz, Watertown, 15-5, 2022), followed by Girls Pole Vault (Leslie Brost, Watertown, 13-0, 2007).
Girls Shot Put (Jane Swenson, Brandon Valley, 43-2.25, 2008), followed by Boys Shot Put (Cooper Mack, Watertown, 66-9, 2021).
Boys Triple Jump (Brad Monahan, Watertown, 47-3.25, 2007), followed by Girls Triple Jump (Alexis Gannon, Brookings, 38-3, 2014).
TRACK EVENTS
1 p.m. — Girls 3,200 relay (Aberdeen Central — Weisbeck, Waterman, Wagge, Flakus — 9:26.77, 2012), followed by Boys 3,200 relay (Brandon Valley — Schultz, Hogie, Kilian, Brockmueller — 7:57.72, 2010).
1:25 p.m. — Girls 100 hurdles (Brielle Dixon, Brandon Valley, :14.53, 2021), followed by Boys 110 hurdles finals (Parker McKittrick, Pierre, :14.31, 2011).
1:45 p.m. — Girls 100 dash (Jill Theeler, Mitchell, :11.8, 1997), followed by Boys 100 dash (Chris Fisher, Yankton, :10.44, 1994).
2:05 p.m. — Girls 800 relay (Brandon Valley — Badger, Nuebel, Thompson, Tingle — 1:42.64, 2017), followed by oys 800 relay (Brandon Valley — Grode, Immeker, Reinschmidt, Holmes — 1:29.41, 2014).
2:20 p.m. — Girls 1,600 run (Ellie Abraham, Brookings, 4:56.32, 2018), followed by Boys 1,600 run (Steve Heidenreich, Watertown, 4:09.6, 1971).
2:40 p.m. — Girls 400 relay (Watertown — Nancy Cummings, Patty Neisen, Traci Fie, Jill Mohrer — 1980) and Brookings (Amari Ward, Maddix Archer, Riley Weisbeck, Landree Wilson — 2021), both :49.6; followed by Boys 400 relay (Watertown — Shay Bratland, Jesse Poppen, Mason Hericks, Joe Foley — :42.83, 2014).
2:55 p.m. — Girls 400 dash (Courtney Dowling, Pierre, :55.57, 2016), followed Boys 400 dash (Cam Holmes, Brandon Valley, :48.44, 2014).
3:15 p.m. — Girls 300 hurdles (Jeana Hoffman, Mitchell, :45.58, 2003), followed by Boys 300 hurdles (Lukas Bernard, Watertown, :38.55, 2011).
3:35 p.m. — Girls medley relay (Watertown — Amber Pickrel, Shannon Patek, Stacy Schooley, Jessica Fox — 4:17.24, 1998), followed by Boys medley relay (Watertown — Jim Byer, Brad Woldt, Paul Myers, Steve Heidenreich — 3:31.9, 1970).
4 p.m. — Girls 800 run (Kay Stormo, Watertown, 2:14.3, 1977), followed by Boys 800 run (Brad Brane, Mitchell, 1:56.43, 1977).
4:20 p.m. — Girls 200 dash (Courtney Dowling, Pierre, :24.68, 2016), followed by Boys 200 dash (Chris Fisher, Yankton, :21.4, 1994).
4:40 p.m. — Girls 3,200 run (Annie Kruse, Yankton, 10:57.44, 2014), followed by Boys 3,200 run (Larry Beesley, Madison, 9:27.4, 1975).
5:10 p.m. — Girls 1,600 relay (Brandon Valley — Hendrick, Tingle, Bickley, Bickley — 3:52.92, 2015), followed by Boys 1,600 relay (Brandon Valley — Austin Vigants, Carson Mashlan, Joey Anderson, Julian Watson — 3:24.54, 2021).
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Conference meet time has arrived for area high school track athletes
