By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — In every corner of the legendary Howard Wood Field, the name of Bennett County eighth-grader Reagan O’Neill was being mentioned.

O’Nelll capped the 2024 track and field season with state titles in the long jump (18-4.75). 100-meter dash (:11.96) and 200-meter dash (:25.25). In Thursday’s 100-meter dash prelims O’Neill set the crowd abuzz with an :11.74 and on Friday she shattered the meet record in the 200-meter dash preliminaries (:24.61).

“It feels amazing to set those records,” O’Neill said. “It’s almost shocking when you cross the finish line and hear those times.”

O’Neill’s seventh-grade sister, Peyson, finished third in the 100-meter hurdles and followed that up with a second-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles (:45.35). The Bennett County foursome of Peyson O’Neill, Mary Claussen, Harley Harris and Reagan O’Neill finished second in the 400-meter relay (:49.33). 

Reagan O’Neill was happy to share some of the state track meet love with her teammates.

“I am so glad we were able to run the 400-meter relay,” O’Neill said. “We were close to winning that but Sioux Falls Christian had a pretty big lead when I got the baton.”

O’Neill admits being a little nervous lining up for the finals of the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash to run against Mount Vernon/Plankinton senior Berkeley Engelland. The twelve time state champion gave some props to an un-and-coming athlete.

“I am excited for her, it’s an awesome position to be in and I was happy to have somebody push me,” Engelland said. There are so many great athletes that are coming up in south dakota and are beginning their careers, it’s awesome, i hope she excels and does good things.” 

Following the meet O’Neill was named the most valuable class A girls track athlete.

The drive for the 2024 track season began right after the 2023 state track meet when the O’Neill siblings, including freshman brother Rush, went to work. 

“Right after the state meet we started working out in the weight room,” O’Neill said. “We put in a lot of work there and went to the high school track to practice this summer.”

Still a relative track novice, O'Neill has four more years to share her talents with an appreciative and knowledgeable crowd at Howard Wood field.

“I already love this place,” O’Neill said. “When you are standing up on that podium and you hear everyone cheering it’s a very special place.”

Rush O’Neill finished fifth in the Class A long jump, third in the high jump and third in the 110-meter hurdles.