By 605 Sports Staff

A year ago the Chester Area boys watched as Hanson (79) and Viborg-Hurley (78) duked it out for the Class B track and field championship. The Flyers finished third in 2021 (43) and with one more year of experience and a talented crew returning Chester Area will be hard to beat in 2022. 

Senior Ryan Benson is Class B’s top hurdler and comes into the state meet leading the 110-meter hurdles (:14.81) and 300-meter hurdles (:40.08). Sophomore Jovi Wolf has Class B leading times in the 100-meter dash (:10.80), 200-meter dash (:21.93) and 400-meter dash (:50.66). 

Depending on how the Flyers use their athletes the team could score well in the short relays. The 400-meter relay is ranked No. 1 in Class B (:43.16), the 800-meter relay also has the top time (1:31.04) while the 1,600 meter relay has the No. 2 time (3:36.01). Chester Area’s Brock Wages has the fourth best shot-put (51.0.5). Senior Stratton Eppard is ranked No. 5 in the discus (144-4) and No. 3 in the 400-meter dash (:51.94).

Freeman Academy/Marion's Thalen Schroeder, right, competes in a relay race at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Teams to watch: 

Freeman Academy/Marion: The Bearcats will be looking to score big points in the longer relays. The 3,200 meter relay team has Class B’s top time this season (8:32.74) , the sprint medley the No. 2 time (3:47.69). Senior Thalen Schroeder has the second fastest 800-meter run time (2:02.79) and the third best high jump (6-4). Tavin Schroeder has the No. 6, 3,200 meter run (10:33.5) and could also score points in the 1,600-meter run. 

Ipswich: The Tigers will be sending at least one athlete to every event for this weekend’s state meet. Sprinter Ty Kadlec has the No. 6 100-meter dash time (:11.20) the No. 2, 200-meter dash time (:22.74). Junior Carter Geditz is ranked No. 3 in the 110-meter hurdles (:16.04) with senior Zach Geditz ranked No. 4 in the discus (151-6.5). Tyler Hettich could score points in the high jump while Colby Sylte (20-10) leads three Ipswich long jumpers into the state meet. 

For Ipswich to stay close they will need to score big in relays. The 400-meter relay is seeded No. 2 (:44.24), the 800-meter relay No. 3 (1:32.99) while the 3,200 meter relay has the No. 3 Class B time (8:40.64). 

Kadoka Area's Dawson Reckling competes in the high jump at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Athletes to watch: 

Platte-Geddes 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay: Black Panthers broke their school record in the 400-meter relay at the Region 6B meet (:45.10). Their region time of (1:32.42) broke another school record and moved Platte-Geddes to the No. 2 Class B time (1:32.42). 

Tri-State’s Kaleb Foltz has Class B’s fastest 800-meter run time (2:01.89) and No. 2, 1,600-meter time (4:40.04).

Canistota’s Josiah Schroeder is top ranked in the 1,600-meter run (4:37.84) and 3,200-meter run (10:06.13). 

Brenden Begeman, Herreid/Selby Area: Top Class B shot put (52-2) and No. 3 ranked triple jumper (42-00.25). 

Dawson Reckling, Kadoka: Class B’s top high-jumper with a leap of 6-8. 

Hank Kraft, Timber Lake: Top Class B long jump (22-2.5), tied for top leap in the triple jump (42-6) and was last season's Class B champ in the event. He’s also got the ninth best shot put mark (47-10). 

Frederick Area relay teams: 1,600 meter relay has Class B’s top time (3:34.54), 3,200 meter relay team is ranked No. 2 (8:39.70) and the  sprint medley relay has Class B’s third fastest time (3:48.04). 

Timber Lake's Hank Kraft competes in the long jump at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Class B boys State Meet Records:

100-Meter Dash: Angel Johnson, Viborg-Hurley, :10.81, 2021

200-Meter Dash: Brennan Schmidt, Freeman, :21.99, 2015

400-Meter Dash: Brennan Schmidt, Freeman, :47.50, 2015

800-Meter Run: Troy Weiland, Canistota, 1:53.51, 1997

1,600-Meter Run: Harley Hanson, New Effington/Rosholt, 4:18.44, 1988

3,200-Meter Run: Harley Hanson, New Effington/Rosholt, 9:12.53, 1988

110-Meter Hurdles: Justin Noteboom, Corsica, :14.30, 2000

300-Meter Hurdles: Jesse Cantalope, Eureka, :38.62, 2005

400-Meter Relay: :43.04, Viborg-Hurley, 2021 (A. Johnson, G. Johnson, Gust, Mason)

800-Meter Relay: Harding County, 1:31.01, 1998 (Verhulst, Sperle, Glines, Glines) 

1,600-Meter Relay: 3:26.13, Elkton, 1980 (Heesch, Gebhart, Gebhart, Gebhart)

3,200-Meter Relay: 8:02.17, Elkton, 1980, Gebhart, Lorden, Gebhart, Gebhart)

Sprint Medley Relay:  3:35.67, Elkton, 1980 (Heesch, Rykhus, Gebhart, Gebhart)

High Jump: 6-9, Zack Anderson, Parker, 2016

Long Jump: 23-2.75, Angel Johnson, Viborg-Hurley, 2021

Triple Jump: 47-1, Chad Greenway, Mt. Vernon, 2001

Discus: 187-9, Jason Long, Harding County, 1993

Shot Put: 60-2, Trevor Begeman, Herreid/Selby Area, 2018