South Dakota
The athletes to watch at the South Dakota state track meet in Sioux Falls
SIOUX FALLS — The 2024 South Dakota State High School Track and Field Championships run Thursday through Saturday at Howard Wood Field.
Events kick off at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday with the final event (the boys’ 1,600-meter relay) slated for 2:40 p.m. on Saturday.
Below, here’s at least 20 reasons (athletes/relay teams) for area fans to keep an eye on this weekend.
Halle Bauer, Great Plains Lutheran
The Panther standout and South Dakota State University recruit missed her senior season of cross country because of an injury but returned this spring and did qualify for six events. She’s slated to run the Class A 400-meter dash and 1,600-meter run and also seems likely to be used in GPL’s medley and 1,600 relays.
Bauer has placed in at least five individual events at state meets during her career.
Malia Kranz, Watertown
The Arrow sophomore heads into the state meet with the top throw in the Class AA girls’ discus (139-3) and the third-best throw in the shot put.
She took sixth in the shot put last year and broke Watertown’s school record with a toss of 43 feet, 8 inches at an indoor meet earlier this spring.
David VanVeen, Aberdeen Central
The Golden Eagle senior has come on strong this spring and enters the state meet with the second-best time in the Class AA boys’ 1,600-meter run and sixth-best in the 3,200.
Chloe Raw, Arlington
The junior speedster finished second in both the Class B girls’ 100- and 200-meter dashes last spring and has recorded the best times in both the 100 (12.03) and 200 (24.86) heading into the state meet.
Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern
Who knows how many events the sophomore standout could run if she wasn’t limited to four. She’s slated to run the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs in Class B girls division this weekend. She has the top time in the 800 (2:05.07), second-best times in both the 1,600 and 3,200 and fourth-best in the 400.
Her track record at state includes wins the 1,600 and 3,200 along with a fifth-place finish in the 800 in 2022 and runner-up finishes in all three races in 2023.
Golf: Clark-Willow Lake’s Roehrich, Hamlin’s Abraham lead teams to titles in Region 1B at CCGC
Ciara Frank, Aberdeen Central
The senior is a two-time state Class AA place winner in the high jump (second in 2023 and sixth in 2022) and also finished third in the long jump last spring.
She enters the state meet No. 3 in the high jump and No. 4 in the long jump.
Owen Spartz, Watertown
The University of South Dakota recruit is looking to become the first Arrow boys’ pole vaulter to win three state titles in the event, but has spent most of the spring behind fellow USD recruit Beau Karst of Harrisburg, the new state record-holder in the event (16-3).
Keep a look out for more on Spartz in a feature story slated to come out Thursday.
Owen Fieber, Deuel & Zac VanMeeteren, Hamlin
Fieber, a junior, took fourth in the Class A boys’ 100-meter dash last spring and enters the state meet with the second-best 100 and eighth-best 200. He has been out with an injury, but is listed among the state entrants.
VanMeeteren, another junior, has stepped up during Fieber’s absence and has the second-best 200 and fourth-best 100 and 400 times among the state entrants. VanMeeteren’s teammate Luke Fraser, a senior, has ran the sixth-best time in the 400.
20 Favorites: Links to the stories highlighting the best northeastern South Dakota athletes since 1984
Isabelle Bloker, Sioux Valley
Bloker has placed in both the Class A girls’ 1,600- and 3,200-meter run at state each of the past two years, including victories in both races in 2023.
She enters state with the best 3,200 time (10:34.25) and second-best 1,600.
Kaleb Foltz, Tri-State
Like Boekelheide, Foltz is a distance standout who is also becoming more of a sprinter. He placed fourth in the Class A boys’ 800, fifth in the 400 and sixth in the 1,600 in the 2023 state meet. He won the 800 and 1,600 and also placed in both events in Class B in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
He’s currently No. 1 in the 800 (1:52.24), third in the 400 and seventh in the 1,600.
Deubrook Area Relays
The Dolphins are back in Class B where they’ve had success, including three-straight state Class B girls division championships from 2017-19.
Deubrook Area’s girls enter the state meet with the top time in the medley (4:22.25) and third-best time the 3,200. The Dolphin boys have the third-best 800 time and top times in the 1,600 (3:29.9), 3,200 (8;14.39) and medley (3:41.46).
Ipswich Pole Vaulters
The Tigers have the top Class B vaulters in boys (junior Rasmus Loken, 13-0) and girls (freshman Jalyssa Hutson, 10-6). Loken took third and Hutson second in last year’s state meet.
Sophomore Marley Guthmiller has placed third in the girls each of the past two years and enters state at No. 3. Sophomore Brody Davis (fifth) is also a returning state place winner for the boys.
Payton Brown & James Batchelor, Milbank
Here’s two talented senior distance runners for the Bulldogs. Brown has run the third-best times in both the boys’ 800 and 1,600 runs. Teammate James Batchelor has the fourth-best 1,600.
They could also factor in on the Bulldog relay teams that currently are second in the medley and third in the 3,200.
Boaz Raderschadt, Watertown
The senior University of North Dakota recruit is one of limited group of Watertown athletes who could win a state title. He enters state wth the second-best throw in the throw in the Class AA shot put and fourth-best in the discus. He finished seventh in the shot put last spring.
Cristhian Rodriguez, Matthew Mount, Robert Begalka & Dustin Wurtz
Here’s four more boys’ throwers to keep an eye on. Rodriguez, a senior from Hamlin, has the top throw in the Class A javelin (169-2) and third-best in the discus. Mount, a sophomore from Webster Area, is fifth in the shot put and sixth in the discus and Begalka, a senior from Deuel, fourth in the shot and seventh in the discus. Mount placed fifth in the shot put and Begalka sixth in the discus in 2023.
Wurtz, a junior from Leola, finished second in the Class B discus and sixth in the shot put at last spring and has the third-best throw in the shot put and fifth-best in the discus so far this spring.
Shawnteah La Croix, Aberdeen Christian
The sophomore sprinter has placed in the Class B girls’ 100 and 200 dashes at each of the last two state meets and and has used that speed to become successful in another event this spring. She enters the state meet No. 2 in the long jump and No. 3 in both the 100 and 200.
Lincoln Woodring, Northwestern
A runner-up in the Class B 800 and a sixth-place finishers in the 1,600 last spring, the junior has the best time in the field in the 800 (1:57.47) and fifth-best time in the 1,600. He also should anchor Northwestern’s No. 2 medley relay.
Emmett Hanson, Milbank
Acccording to numbers, the junior is the cream of the crop for area hurdlers. He heads to the state meet with the thrid-best Class A time in the 300s and the fourth-best in the 100s.
Ipswich (boys) & Potter County (girls) Relays
Ipswich has the fastest times this spring in both the Class B boys’ 400 (44.11) and 800 relays (1:31.3).
Potter County’s girls have the fastest Class B time in the 1,600 (4:08.64), second-fastest in the 3,200 and fourth-fastest in the medley.
Trevor Heinz, Ipswich & Spencer Melius, Faulkton Area
These two area athletes also head to the state meet the top distances in Class B boys’ field events.
Heinz, a senior, is No. 1 in the long jump (22-6.5) and Melius, a sophomore, No. 1 in the javelin (170-0).
State Track Meet Schedule: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sdhsaa.com/Athletics/TF-MeetSchedule.pdf
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
South Dakota
South Dakota’s Picturesque City On The Minnesota Border Has Iconic Parks And Hidden Campgrounds – Islands
You don’t have to spend very long in South Dakota to see why so many folks are proud to call the place home. Especially in the southeast corner of the state, where you’ll find recreation areas full of otherworldly rock formations, rushing riverways, and miles of rolling prairie plains. Known as the “City of Parks,” Garretson sits right in the thick of it all, with several lush green spaces blanketed by dusty hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, and colorful rocky cliffs.
Many flock to the city to see the vibrant rose-colored quartzite formations native to the region and parts of neighboring Minnesota and Iowa, formed from river deposits ages ago. Coined the “gold of Minnehaha County,” the striking rock is almost as hard as a diamond, which made it a go-to material for many of the old railroad hub’s earlier buildings. Established in the late 1800s, much of Garretson’s downtown area looks frozen in time. A little more than 1,000 South Dakotans live in the community today, per World Population Review.
Small and quaint, you won’t find any mega hotel chains around town. But if you do want to stay the night, there’s a slew of scenic campsites tucked away in the wilds. The rural community straddles the waters of Split Rock Creek, known to some as the Split Rock River, a tributary of the Big Sioux River. The city is just a couple of miles from the Minnesota border and isn’t very far from Sioux Falls either. So if you’re coming in from out of town, you can fly straight into the Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), grab a rental or rideshare, and be in Garretson in roughly half an hour.
Rugged rocks, local lore, and other Garretson adventures
Garretson houses some pretty iconic parks, some of which are steeped in local lore. For a short walk and a tall tale, head up to Devil’s Gulch Park, which sits on the north end of town along the 55-mile-long Split Rock Creek. Dubbed the “Home of Beauty, Mystery, and Legend,” the local park is among the most notorious recreation areas in the region — and not because of the hellish name.
As the story goes, the infamous outlaw Jesse James once dodged authorities with his trusty steed by jumping over the 20-foot gorge after attempting to rob a bank across state lines back in the late 1800s. You can read all about it on the signage around the park, where a footbridge now stands at the site of the legendary ravine leap. All fables aside, Devil’s Gulch boasts beautiful red quartzite formations and a waterfall that usually gushes after a heavy rain. Take in the region’s natural beauty along the short Devil’s Gulch Trail, which winds through the park for only about half a mile round-trip.
Split Rock Park is right next door and has much the same sights — bridges, a waterfall, rugged red rocks, and all. Launch a kayak or canoe in the rustling creek or book a Jesse James Pontoon Tour in the summertime to see one of the caves the bandit laid low in decades ago. Split Rock Park also has a rig-friendly campground, equipped with 30- and 50-amp electric hookups, with views that rival any of the best RV destinations across America. The campground is just blocks away from downtown Garretson and is typically available from around April or May to the end of October.
There’s state park fun in this part of South Dakota, too
Don’t head home without visiting Tripadvisor’s No. 1-rated park around Garretson and one of South Dakota’s most unique areas — Palisades State Park. The popular recreation spot, which stretches along Split Rock Creek just south of town, has undergone a major expansion in recent years, more than doubling its size to well over 400 acres. Like the other creekfront park spaces, Palisades is dotted with dazzling quartzite outcroppings that line the gorge, some of which stand more than 50 feet above the water. See the towering pink cliffs and stunning creek views along the moderately challenging 1.5-mile Split Rock Creek Trail, which is among the most tackled routes in the park.
You can also paddle along the waters, plop down for a picnic, or do a bit of birding. According to eBird, more than 150 species of birds have been spotted in the state park, including yellow-billed cuckoos, cliff swallows, and red-eyed vireos. The rugged cliffs are also popular among rock climbers, with many sections suitable for beginners. If you want to hunker down for the evening, the state park has more than 100 campsites scattered across two camping areas: the Queen Campground on the north end and the newer King Campground on the south end. Both can accommodate RVs, with dedicated tent sites and cabins to rent. Restroom and shower facilities are available on-site, as well as a dump station, picnic area, and playground for the kids.
Want to see more of South Dakota? Minnesota’s underrated Blue Mounds State Park, with its burly bison herds and scenic picnic areas, is only about a 20-minute drive from Garretson.
South Dakota’s special postseason run came to an end in a 5-4 loss in eight innings against Grand Canyon at the Lincoln Regional, but it didn’t come without some heroics on each side.
Jada Cooper won the game for the Antelopes with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. South Dakota pitcher Peyton Paulsen got the first two outs of the inning, then Sydney McCray and Raegan Holtorf singled to set up Cooper’s swing.
“Credit to Grand Canyon, they had a super fast runner at second base and it was going to be hard to throw her out,” South Dakota head coach Robert Wagner said. “We made an effort on it, but overall it’s a good game. I’m really proud of the players, coaches and everybody involved.”
Grand Canyon will face top-seeded Nebraska in the Lincoln Regional Final at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17. The winner will move on to the Super Regional round.
South Dakota sent the game to extra with two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at four. Sara Iburg walked and Ella McGee doubled with one out, and Katie Hofmann was sent up to pinch hit for Brynnly German.
Hofmann delivered her fifth hit of the season and doubled her season RBI total with a two-run single to tie the game. Hofmann was in tears of joy on first base, and first base coach Shannon Pivovar looked her in the eyes and said, “I’m so proud of you.”
Grand Canyon broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth, with Tinley Lucas and Ellie Pond hitting home runs on back-to-back pitches.
Campbell German got the start in the circle for South Dakota after Madison Evans got the win over Louisville. She surrendered a run in the first and another in the third. Campbell German’s final line was six innings, 11 hits, three walks, four runs, three earned and three strikeouts.
The sophomore pitcher entered the game with a 5.81 ERA in 2026, but navigated trouble constantly to give South Dakota a shot at the regional final.
Paulsen went 1.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits.
“Campbell and Peyton did a great job,” Wagner said. “There’s a few things defensively we’d like to have back, clean up, but Campbell kept them off balance and she made some pitches and was using the elements to her advantage.”
The Coyotes took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Kiya Johnson drove in Autumn Iversen and McGee with a single.
McGee led the ‘Yotes with three hits and two runs scored, Johnson finished with two hits and an RBI, Hofmann had a single and two RBIs, Iversen walked three times and scored once, Iburg walked and scored a run, Brooke Carey singled and Abi Brown drew a walk.
South Dakota finished its season with a 25-36-1 record, but the Coyotes won their first conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament game in the program’s 48-year history.
“The experience is invaluable because, you can say it all you want, but now they’ve been through it,” Wagner said. “I think moving forward, it’s going to benefit the players and the program.”
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Legislation was considered to split Dakota Territory east-west at the Missouri River instead of the current north-south split that was approved in 1889.
A retrospective released by the state of South Dakota on the 125th anniversary of statehood noted that the east-west proposal did have some support.
The East/West Dakota would have followed the Missouri River and aligned regions with similar geographic and cultural identities.
The north-south border decision was motivated partially by resentment between the northern and southern portions of Dakota Territory over the location of the state capital. In 1883, the territory’s capital was moved from Yankton to Bismarck.
Other reasons cited included separate railroad systems, economic ties to major eastern cities (Sioux Falls and Fargo) and the growth of separate systems of public institutions.
This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.
Sources
State of South Dakota, 125th anniversary story
BigThink.com, East and West Dakota? Here’s What Those States Would Look Like
Medium, A Tale of Two States
South Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to news@sdnewswatch.org. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
-
Alabama2 minutes agoAvery Luedke Transferring To Alabama After One Season With Tennessee
-
Alaska8 minutes agoSouthwest Airlines Begins First-Ever Alaska Service at Anchorage
-
Arizona14 minutes agoRoad to the WCWS: Arizona can’t defend the long ball, Duke wins Durham Regional
-
Arkansas20 minutes agoFayetteville architect constructed cutting-edge Fine Arts Center at University of Arkansas, paved modernism’s path | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
-
California26 minutes agoDuck Hunting in an Unlikely Destination: California Sea Ducks – Gun Dog
-
Colorado32 minutes agoColorado wildfires: Evacuations ordered for 13,000-acre wildfire burning on Colorado-Oklahoma border
-
Connecticut38 minutes ago22-year-old man dies after crash on I-84 in Middlebury
-
Delaware44 minutes ago38-year-old motorcyclist killed in Wilmington crash, police say
