Petersen, Howell Among Big Winners in South Dakota

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Brandon Valley senior Braiden Petersen unleashed some speed that he didn’t even know he had on the way to four state meet wins.

Saturday at the School of Mines and Technology's O'Harra Stadium in Rapid City S.D., Petersen won the Class AA 100 (10.75), 200 (21.71), 400 (49.83) and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:25.7) at the South Dakota state championships.

“I wasn’t expecting to win the 100 coming into this year,” Petersen said in an interview with argusleader.com. “But I just progressively got better. It feels great.”

Belle Fourche senior Shayla Howell set a Class A meet record in the triple jump (39-0.25) and won the long jump (19-3.25). On the track, she won the 100 (12.03) and 200 (25.18). Her 100 prelim time of 12.01 was a meet record. She finished her prep career with nine state track and field titles.

“God’s blessed me with a lot of talent and I’m glad I’ve used it the way I have,” Howell said to the argusleader.com. “I hope I’ve inspired others. I love helping people and showing them things.”

Standout distance runner Derick Peters of West Central won the Class A 1,600 (4:25.29) and finished second in the 3,200 (9:53.35) and 800 (1:57.74).

Class A MVP Maddie Lavin of Vermillion won the 3,200 (11:27.75), 1, 600 (5:11.22) and ran on the second place 1,600-meter sprint medley relay.

Justus Adams of SF Christian won the Class A 110 hurdles (14.38), setting a meet record in the prelims, and won the 300 hurdles (39.2). Earlier in the season he broke the 49-year-old all-time state record in the 110 hurdles when he ran 14.24.

In the 400, freshman Collin Helma of Freeman won the Class B title (49.96).

Sophomore Caelyn Valandra-Prue of Todd County won her second Class A girls 400 meters (57.54) title.

Lead-Deadwood senior Carolyn Groeger tied her Class A meet pole vault record, clearing 11-10.

Freshman Haleigh Timmer of Thomas More won the Class A 800 in a meet record time of 2:13.61.

Eighth grader Kellyn Kortemeyer of Custer won the Class A girls shot put (38-8).

Sage Hagen of RC Central won the Class AA boys long jump (22-8) and triple jump (46-5.75).

Sophomore Ellie Abraham of Brookings won the Class AA 800 in 2:13.53.

Wall senior Kyla Sawvell set a Class B meet record, throwing 43-11.50 in the shot put.

Trevor Begeman of Herreid/Selby Area set a record as well, throwing 60-2.25 for the Class B boys shot put title.

Team Champions
Class AA -- SF Lincoln boys 174 points; Brandon Valley girls 108.5 points
Class A -- St. Thomas More boys 109.5; St. Thomas More girls 83
Class B -- Freeman boys 46; Deubrook Area girls 84