Expanded three-day meet provides for plenty of storylines at South Dakota state track meet

SIOUX FALLS — It is going to be a three-day monitor and area pageant, with champions to be topped throughout Howard Wooden Area this week on the 117th annual South Dakota state highschool monitor and area meet.

Except for the format of the meet altering, with your complete meet happening in a single location and being unfold over three days, there are a bevy of charming storylines in place. Practically 2,800 athletes shall be in motion in Sioux Falls, so right here’s a have a look at what to observe for on the state meet:

There may be as soon as once more star energy within the South Dakota state monitor and area meet, primarily in those that have damaged data already this season.

Fast Metropolis Stevens distance runner Simeon Birnbaum would possibly take the cake. He enters as the favourite within the distance races, beginning with the 800-meter run, the place he appears prone to threaten the state meet file of 1:52.38. Birnbaum’s season-best within the race is 1:52.28. The reigning boys South Dakota Gatorade cross nation runner of the yr broke the state mile file in April in California in 4:07.88 and broke the Dakota Relays file in Could within the 3,200-mile race in a time of 8:55.22. The three,200-meter race is the one he stands because the heaviest favourite in, with the very best time within the class by 35 seconds. Spearfish’s Keenan Urdiales shall be shut competitors within the 800 and 1,600-meter races.

Within the 1,600-meter run, he has an opportunity to take down an almost 40-year file for the Class AA state meet race, held by Huron native Rod DeHaven, the previous Olympian who now coaches cross nation and monitor at South Dakota State.

In a shorter race, Brandon Valley’s Julian Watson blazed away within the 400-meter race earlier this yr in Pierre, snapping the state file with a time of 47.46, practically beating everybody else on the monitor by three seconds. Watson and Aberdeen Central’s Sam Rohlfs, who broke the state file within the boys lengthy soar earlier this yr by going over 24 toes, didn’t compete within the Dakota Relays in an effort to remain wholesome, so monitor and area followers shall be desperate to see each this weekend. Rohlfs is the favourite within the lengthy soar and triple soar, with an opportunity to take down the Class AA meet file within the lengthy soar.

The Class AA state meet distance data are additionally at risk within the 1,600 and three,200 meter races with O’Gorman senior Alea Hardie, whose finest mark of the yr within the 1,600 (4:44.25) and the three,200 (10:10.83) are in line to take down these earlier bests. She ranks within the top-10 nationally in each races and narrowly missed out on the 1,600-meter state file final week in Brandon.

There’s normally not a lot separating the highest area athletes on the state championships, and the Class B ladies shot put might be a kind of occasions that comes right down to mere inches. Sully Buttes’ Lydia Hill is the top-seeded athlete with the one 40-foot throw of the season, a prime mark of 40 toes, 1.5 inches. A variety of different throwers are inside just a few toes of that, together with second-seeded Danielle Hawley, of Estelline/Hendricks (39-10), Raygen Diede, of Menno (38-7.5), Delanie VanDriel, of Scotland (38 toes).

One other occasion to observe in Class B is the excessive soar. Lyman’s Skyler Volmer is the favourite with a soar of 5-5 this season however seven further jumpers within the area have cleared 5-2. A profession day for considered one of them might present a state meet shock.

One of many boys area occasions to control is the boys shot put in Class A, the place Hanson’s Colton Dillon has the highest throw of the season within the class at 52 toes, 11.75 inches. Sioux Falls Christian’s Jaden Witte (52-1.5) and Tri-Valley’s Connor Christensen (51-1.75) are proper there as championship contenders as properly. The highest 5 throwers within the occasion are all seniors, so anticipate expertise to point out by way of within the throwing ring.

In Class B, Menno’s Owen Eitemiller is looking for to win a second straight boys pole vault title and certain will settle a season-long battle between his prime foe from the identical area in Gayville-Volin’s Andrew Gustad. Each have prime marks of 13 toes this season.

A fantastic a part of the state meet has been the dramatic crew finishes in latest seasons. The Class B boys title was determined in 2021 by the 4×400 relay, with Hanson successful by one level over Viborg-Hurley. The Class AA title on the ladies facet was cut up, with O’Gorman and Brandon Valley ending as co-champions after every scoring 124 factors.

The place will the shut end come from this yr? Maybe in Class A from the ladies, the place various groups convey sturdy teams of performers to the competitors this yr, together with West Central, Sioux Falls Christian, Mount Vernon/Plankinton and Custer.