By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS  — With 10 state titles under her belt, Mount Vernon/Plankinton senior Berkeley Engelland looks to add to her legacy that already includes ten state titles.

Engelland will look to defend Class A state titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 800-meter run. While Engelland is the overwhelming favorite to win the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run, the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash events will be a bit more challenging with the emergence of some elite talent in those events. 

Bennett County’s Reagan O’Neill has the fastest Class A 100-meter dash (:12.05) with Engelland entering the meet with the sixth fastest time (:12.55). O’Neill has the fastest Class A 200-meter dash (:24.99) while Engelland has the third fastest time (:25.61). 

Loaded Sioux Falls Christian girls team looking for third consecutive title

The machine that is Sioux Falls Christian girls track and field just keeps getting better. The Chargers won every relay at the state meet in 2023 and enter the state meet top-ranked in the 400-meter relay (:49.12), 800-meter relay (1:43.88), 1,600-meter relay (4:00.58), 3,200-meter relay (9:06.91) and sprint medley relay (4:12.77). 

Charger senior Corrine Braun has the fastest 1,600-meter run this season (4:54.99), well under the state meet record of Canton’s Heidi Reed (5:03.16 set in 1991. Sophomore Halle Braun has the fastest 300-meter hurdles time (:44.66) and could challenge the oldest Class A state meet record (44.60) of Jefferson’s Amy Allard set back in 1981. 

Must see athletes and events:

• Reagan O’Neill, Bennett County: The eighth-grader enters the meet with top times in the short sprints and long jump (19.00.5). O’Neill also has the third-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles (:15.01).

• Girls 1,600-meter run: The sheer talent of Class A distance runners is simply outstanding. Entering the state meet seven runners have run under 5:10. In order to even make it into the state meet, athletes needed to run sub 4:25. 

• Girls shot put: Rapid City Christian’s Kayla Dilka has the top mark (40-4.5) with MVP’s Clara Frank right behind (40-4.5) right behind. Chamberlain’s Tobi Peterson (39-6) and Sisseton’s Chloe Langager (38-2) could both challenge for a state title. 

• Lennox girls: Lennox is very young but we’ll be hearing plenty about this team in the next few seasons. Seventh-grader Bergan Musser should make some noise in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump. The Orioles have very strong relay teams in the 1,600-meter relay, sprint medley relay and 3,200-meter relay.

Sioux Falls Christian boys looking for fourth consecutive team title

Entering the meet the Chargers are tied with Flandreau (1972-74), Spearfish (1990-92) and Madison (1993-95) as the only teams that have won three consecutive state titles. The Charger boys aren’t as strong this year but have plenty of talent in multiple events.

Look for the Chargers to run strong in the relays as they have in past years. The 400-meter relay (:44.06) has the fourth fastest time in Class A. The 1600-meter relay has the top time (3:27.82) and the 3,200-meter relay has the second fastest time (8:09.51). The ace in the hole for Sioux Falls Christian could be in the shot put and discus where junior Paul Hoekman has the best shot put (61-1) and best discus throw (165-6). 

Must see athletes and events: 

• Hot Springs senior Braden Peterson: Having missed the 2023 state meet because of injury. Peterson will be looking to cap off a strong senior year that included being part of the Class 11B state championship football team. Peterson enters the meet with top times in the100-meter dash (:10.85), 200-meter dash (:22.10) and 400-meter dash (:48.89). Peterson will run those three events along with a relay for the Bison. 

• Must see race is the boys 800-meter run: Tri-State’s Kaleb Foltz shocked us all last week running the fifth fastest time in South Dakota history (1:52.24). All told, twelve athletes have gone under the two-minute barrier. Just to make the state meet athletes needed to run under 2:02

• James Deckert, Ethan/Parkston: Deckert enters the state meet with the top long jump (22-2.5) and the seventh best triple jump (42-2.75). Deckert also runs on the 400-meter relay (43.58) and 800-meter relay (1:30.60), with both of those times being the second fastest in Class A this season. 

• Hill City distance crew: The Rangers have the top time in the 3,200-meter relay (8:05.58) and third fastest time in the sprint medley relay (3:37.94). Brandon Escalante has the second-fastest time in the 800-meter run (1:56.59) and Luke Rupert has the top time in the 3,200-meter run (9:19.71).