SIOUX FALLS -- Sam Rohlfs’ shortened-senior season included a familiar finish.

The Aberdeen Central multi-sport athlete had his senior season slowed by injuries, but won his second straight Class AA long jump title on Thursday at Howard Wood. 

Rohlfs, the state record holder in the long jump, wasn’t able to compete much in the event that much this season. But he soared to a meet record on Thursday, finishing with a mark of 23 feet and 5.25 inches. 

“I haven’t really long jumped since the first outdoor meet of the season,” Rohlfs said. “So of course there’s always going to be that doubt out there, but I have been told by my coaches and my family that you have to believe in yourself and anything you tell yourself you can do, you will get it done.”

He got it done on Thursday, finishing almost a full foot ahead of second-place finisher Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Griffin Wilde (22-8). He put away any suspense early on and set the meet record on his second jump. 

Rohlfs, however, wasn’t worried about his distance. 

“I was more worried about my leg holding up on the runway,” Rohlfs said. “Again, I haven’t long jumped until today. So that was the main concern, but in warmups I got a couple sprints in and I was really confident in what I was going to do today.”

It was good enough to add another record to his resume and defend his title, which was among his top priorities this season.  

“I definitely wanted to defend my title this year,” Rohlfs said. “That would have been a bummer. I had to sit through conference and Howard Wood and that was real tough for me. So I am happy I got the opportunity to do this.” 

Rohlfs, who will compete in track and field at South Dakota State University, also qualified for the 100-meter dash finals on Saturday.