By Matt Gade

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Heading into the state track and field championships, the O’Neill last name could be seen sitting atop numerous events, especially the jumps as the favorites to win it.

Those include Rush O’Neill with the state’s best long jump and high jump marks in Class B boys, Reagan O’Neill in the Class B girls’ long jump and Peyson O’Neill in the high jump.

Their cousin Harley Harris also sits atop the standings in the Class B girls’ triple jump.

Coaching them in the jumps is grandma, Vera O’Neill.

“It's a pride of my heart to watch my grandkids,” Vera said.

Quick to point to her son and the O’Neill’s dad, James, as to why her grandkids are having such success, the impact grandma is having on her grandkids is something the grandkids recognize.

“It’s just awesome to have someone who truly cares about us,” Harris said.

Growing up, all of the kids said there wasn’t a time they can’t remember when they weren’t playing sports or training for them.

Vera was a part of it. 

“She was always working with us, but it was especially awesome when she decided to become an actual coach — assistant coach,” freshman Reagan O’Neill said.

“I'm coaching them, even when I wasn't coaching, just sitting in the stands. I have to,” Vera said.

On Friday, Reagan captured gold in the Class B girls’ long jump with a meet record leap of 19-2.25. 

Reagan’s older brother Rush, a sophomore, also won gold, claiming the Class B boys title with a jump of 23-2.5.

Rush O'Neill, of Bennett County, jumps 23-2.5 to win the Class B boys' long jump on the first day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

“She was an amazing high jumper. She's in the top 10, but she knows a lot from when she used to jump. She still is willing to learn a lot,” Rush said. “She coached her kids when they were in high school. Now she's just bringing it to us.”

Vera (Schlosser) is still listed as tied for sixth all-time with a jump of 5-9 set in 1974.

On Friday morning, eighth-grader Peyson O’Neill, who set a new meet record in the Class B 100-meter hurdles (11.73) on Thursday, comes into the Class B girls’ high jump with the top mark of 5-6 this year. 

Then on Saturday, Harris is the top seed in the Class B girls’ triple jump with a mark of 36-0.75.

Harris said it was Vera who said she should compete in the triple jump, with last season being her first year in the event.

“She’s just naturally a triple jumper,” Vera said of Harris.

The Bennett County 400-meter relay team of Peyson, Harris, Reagan and Macy Claussen set a new meet record with a :48.2 heading into finals on Saturday.

Vera also coaches the relay teams on their exchanges.

“I know handoffs, because I coach all the relay girls,” Vera said. “It’s amazing that they did that good, because two of the handoffs were really bad. Saturday, with the finals, watch if we get those down. Wow.” 

Harley Harris, of Bennett County, takes the handoff from teammate Harley Harris to run the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay team and set a new meet record in the event on the first day of the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

With a chance to win more gold and set meet records for the O’Neill grandkids, Vera is quick to say the credit should go to her kids, the grandkids’ parents. The grandkids said they’re grateful and enjoy having grandma as their coach.

“I don't do much, just little suggestions,” Vera said.