By Rich Winter 

605 Sports

Boys Preview: Harrisburg edged Rapid City Stevens 94-90 for the Class AA team title at the state track meet, and with a number of returning athletes, those two powerhouses should be in the mix in late May. 

Athletes to watch: 

• Simeon Birnbaum: The Rapid City Stevens senior and future University of Oregon Duck, Birnbaum holds all of South Dakota’s distance records except for the 800-meter run. Look for Birnbaum to pick and choose what events to run and where. One event for track fans to look forward to this season is the 800-meter run special event at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in early May. 

• Jaden Guthmiller: The state record holder in the 100-meter dash (:10.45) is poised for a special season. Guthmiller was also a state champion in the 200-meter dash. It will be interesting to see what relays the Spartans find for Guthmiller to run. 

• Aidan Hedderman: The Sturgis junior won the 110-meter hurdles as a sophomore and is also one of the top pole vaulters in the state. 

• Kael Miedema: Sioux Falls Washington’s Kael Miedema is the returning state champion in the shot put and discus. Miedema, a future University of Nebraska thrower, is likely to challenge a number of all-time state marks in both events. 

• Owen Spartz: The Watertown pole vaulter scared 15-feet as a sophomore and will likely challenge for a state title. 

Others to watch per event: 

100-meter dash: State record holder Jaden Guthmiller (:10.45) is the heavy favorite to win another state title this spring. Other state place winners returning are Harrisburg’s Tim Bishop, Yankton’s Austin Gobel, Rapid City Stevens’ Julian Scott and Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Nelson Wright.

200-meter dash: Guthmiller is the defending state champion but could be seriously challenged by Harrisburg’s Tim Bishop. Guthmiller’s state winning time was :22.26 with Bishop right behind at :22.33. Other contenders will likely come Brandon Valley’s Nate Andresen and Yankton’s Austin Gobel. 

400-meter dash: With the top three athletes from last year’s state meet graduating the top returning 400-meter runner is Aberdeen Central’s Drew Salfrank who was fourth in the state meet last year. Other athletes to watch are Rapid City Central’s Cael Meisman (51-flat in season opener) and Brandon Valley’s London Watson. 

800-meter run: At some point this season Rapid City Stevens senior Simeon Birnbaum will likely add an 800 meter state record to his list of accomplishments. He’s No. 2 all time in the state in that event and track fans could see a sub 1:50 mark this year. Chasing Birnbaum this season will be O’Gorman’s Sam Castle, Watertown’s Jaxson Fiechtner and Brookings’ Samuel Conrad. 

1,600-meter run: Barring injury, this event is Simeon Birnbaum’s to win. Yankton junior Dylan Payer has been running well this winter and should be a strong contender. O’Gorman athletes Sam Castle and Jack Castelli should be in the mix. 

Rapid City Stevens senior Simeon Birnbaum won four gold medals at the 2022 Class AA state track meet - Rodney Haas - File photo

3,200-meter run: State record holder Birnbaum is a notch ahead of everyone else. Pierre junior Jared Lutmer was fourth at the state meet (9:38.26) last year. Other returning place winners are Yankton’s Zach Fedde and O’Gorman’s Jack Castelli. 

110 meter hurdle: Aidan Hedderman of Sturgis broke through last season capturing a state title (:15.13). Hedderman ran a :15.43 in his season opener. Other returning place-winners are Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Vaughn Brown and Lincoln’s Owen Horstad.

300-meter hurdles: Aberdeen Central’s Aiden Heimann broke the 40-second barrier (“39.96) on his way to the Class AA state title. Pierre’s Jack Merkwan and Vaughn Brown are the other two returning state place-winners. 

Shot put: Five of last year’s state place winners were juniors that will really bring attention to this event. Washington’s Kael Miedema is already over 60-feet this spring but he will be tested by Pierre’s Jason Maciejczak. Harrisburg’s Caiden Mason, O’Gorman’s Nate Ratzlaff and Brandon Valley’s Tristan Niewenhuis could all throw past 55-feet. 

Discus: Miedema and Maciejczak are the class of the field with both athletes capable of cracking the 200-foot barrier. Niewenhuis, Aberdeen Central’s Brian Johnson, Rapid City Central’s Jaxon Morrison and Brandon Valley’s Brayden Cline are all returning medal winners from the 2022 state meet. 

Javelin: Harrisburg’s Carson Barnett and Brandon Valley’s Brayden Cline were the top two place winners at the state meet and should have fun rewriting records in this second year event. Roosevelt’s Damon Roggenbuck and Yankton’s Tate Schafer will also be challengers. 

High jump: Spearfish’s Brayden Delahoyde won a state title last spring (6-7) as a sophomore. Lincoln’s Niehmyah Tranbrock, Rapid City Stevens’ Beck Morgan and Lincoln’s Ethen Lincoln were all on the podium at the state meet. Keep an eye on Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Jaevious Phillipshollie who tied for seventh at the state meet as a freshman. 

Pole vault: Juniors Owen Spartz of Watertown and Beau Karst of Harrisburg should both get over 15-feet this spring. Aidan Hedderman of Sturgis and Dylan Lichty of Huron were also on the state podium last spring. 

Long jump: Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Griffin Wilde jumped 22-8 for second place at the state meet last year. Jefferson’s Aiden Cuka and Watertown’s Juven Hudson along with Mitchell athletes Treyson Schulz and Tyler Kindvall were all on the podium at the state meet. 

Triple jump: Isaac Flanegan of Rapid City Central jumped 42-6.5 to claim fourth at the state meet. Rapid City Stevens sophomore Jess Christensen and Brandon Valley’s Grayden Binger were also on the podium last year.