Mack Wins Final Throws Titles; O'Gorman, Brandon Valley Share Girls AA Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

One of the most dominant throwers in the country, Watertown's Cooper Mack, got a final chance to show his hard work with the return of the South Dakota state track adn field championships at Woodle Field in Sturgis. 

Mack, who traveled during the pandemic to places like Arizona, Virginia and South Carolina to find competition, won the shot put with 66 feet, 6.75 inches. And he won the discus with 179-5. 

A pair of young sprinters showed that the futrue is bright in South Dakota. Sophomore Jaden Guthmiller from Spearfish won the 100 meters in 10.69 seconds. Freshman Ellen Merkley of Sioux Falls Lincoln won the girls 100 in 11.88 seconds and earlier tied the all-time best in South Dakota with an 11.84c. She also took the 200 in 24.54 and the long jump with 18-2.75.

Merkley teamed with her sister, Lauren, Elizabeth Jerstad and Linnea Nesheim to run an all-time state best 47.84 in the 4x100 relay. 

Meghan Walker led the Brandon Valley girls to the AA team title, winning the 400 meters in 56.08 and taking second behind Merkley in the 100 and 200. She was also ran the third leg on a fateful third-place 4x400 relay. 

The outcome of that relay decided the team title. Yankton beat O'Gorman by .01 seconds, and Brandon Valley was third, to produce a final standings that saw O'Gorman and Brandon Valley both finish with 124 points. 

Brielle Dixon ran 14.29 to win the 100-meter hurdles for BV and she was also third in the 300 hurdles and part of scoring relays in the 4x100 and 4x200. 

O'Gorman's Alea Hardie won the 800 (2:14.42) and 1,600 (4:53.27). Teammate Lexie Brady won the shot put with 46-8 and was second in the discus with 132-10. And Daphne Clausen added a win in the pole vault with 12-1. 

Nyanas Kur of Sioux Falls Washington covered the 300-meter hurdles in 43.73 seconds. 

Matayah Yellow Mule from Rapid City Central won the triple jump with 38-10.50. 

Andrew Martens' performance was essential for the Sioux Falls Lincoln boys and he came through with a victory in the 110 hurdles (14.54), second in the 300 hurdles and a he ran a leg on the all-important 4x400 relay, which won in 3:21.84. 

Matthew Stahl from Sioux Falls Washington completed the 200/400 double with 21.84 and 48.86. Sophomore Simeon Birnbaum from Rapid City Stevens took the 800 and 1,600. 

Sam Rohlfs of Aberdeen Central won the long jump with 22-1.50 and the triple jump with 45-9. 

The Sioux Falls Christian boys rolled up 133.66 points to claim the Class A title in Spearfish. Isaac Davelaar swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles, hurdlers Mitchell Walker (110s) and Chris Oostra (300s) were both crowned champions and the school won all four relay events.

Bennett Schwenn from Milbank jumped a state-leading 46-3.50 in the triple jump and also won the long jump at 22-6. 

Jaden Peters from Wagner won the pole vault with 15-6. 

Four-event champion Averi Schmeichel was the key performer in West Central's team win on the girls side. She won the 200 meters (25.80), the 100 hurdles (14.85), the 300 hurdles (45.24) and the long jump (17-10.50). 

Hamlin sophomore Gracelyn Leiseth won the discus with a throw of 149-3 and the shot put with 45-5 -- both personal best efforts. 

Jade Ecoffey, a sophomore from Red Cloud, won her school's first titles in the 1,600 (5:14.52) and 3,200 (11:31.29). 

In the Class B, held at Rapid City, Hanson's boys pulled out the team title, 79-78 over Viborg-Hurley, with a victory in te 4x400. Viborg-Hurley was a non-scoring ninth. 

Angel Johnson of V-H won the boys 100 meters in 10.81 seconds, the 200 in 22.89, the long jump with 23-2.75 and powered the winning 4x100 (43.04). 

Hayden Bahmuller (discus) and Thailan Hallman (800) were both winners for Hanson. 

On the girls side, Cerington Jones from New Underwood ran a fast time of 56.07 to win the 400 meters. 

Ella Heinitz of Dell Rapids St. Mary won the 100 in 11.99 and took the 200 as well in 25.76. State leader Caelyn Valandra-Prue of White River, one of the fastest girls in the state, was injured and limped through her finals. 

Colman-Eagan won the girls title on the strength of Reese Luze (800 meters champion, 300 hurdles third), Mackenzie Hemmer (100 hurdles and triple jump champion, 300 hurdles second) and three relay victories. Olivia Baumberger won the long jump and Josie Mousel cleared 5-5 to win the high jump. 

Team Champions - 

Class AA - Sioux Falls Lincoln boys 93 points, Brandon Valley and O'Gorman girls 124 points - RESULTS

Class A - Sioux Falls Christian boys 133.66 points, West Central girls 82 points - RESULTS

Class B - Hanson boys 79 points, Colman-Egan girls 116 points - RESULTS