By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Led by an elite group of distance runners, Sioux Falls O’gorman girls edged Brandon Valley for the Class AA state title. Two of those runners Libby Castelli and Ruth Pardy return, giving the Knights another formula for big points at the state meet. 

Brandon Valley returns a strong nucleus of sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers that will have the Lynx in contention by late May. 

Athletes to watch: 

• Shae Rumsey: Rumsey won the 400-meter dash last spring as a sophomore (:56.3) for Yankton. 

• Libby Castelli: The Sioux Falls O’Gorman athlete was second in both the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run at the 2022 state meet. 

• Ali Bainbridge: The Sioux Falls Lincoln distance standout is poised to win the 3,200 meter run and could do damage in the 800 meter run and 1,600 meter runs.

• Jayaunna Stroh: As an eighth grader Stroh won the high jump and placed in the 100 meter hurdles. 

• Nyariek Kur: The Sioux Falls Washington athlete is a strong contender for both the long jump and triple jump state titles. 

Others to watch per event: 

100-meter dash: The top six from last year’s state meet graduated meaning this is a wide open event in 2023. Aberdeen Central’s Gracie Rife was seventh at the state meet last year as an eighth grader. Other athletes in the mix this year should be Lincoln’s Linnea Nesheim, Pierre’s Kali Ringstmeyer and Lincoln’s Ellen Merkley. 

200-meter dash: Brandon Valley’s Madison Pederson was fifth at the state meet last year (26.36). Lincoln’s Ellen Merkley along with Brookings’ Maddix Archer and Washington’s Orquidia Kannah should be in the mix this season. 

400-meter dash: Yankton’s Shae Rumsey was the state champion last season (:56.3) as a sophomore. A big challenge should come from Brandon Valley’s Mia Wentzy, third at the state meet (:57.37). Yankton’s Sydnee Serck, O’Gorman’s Julia Eggert and Mitchell’s Lizzie Tyler could all challenge for podium spots. 

800-meter run: Could be one of the most competitive events in Class AA. Podium returners are O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli, Brandon Valley’s Mia Wentzy, Rapid City Stevens’ Brionna Holso, Yankton’s Sydnee Serck, O’Gorman’s Ruth Party and Lincoln’s Ali Bainbridge all made the podium last year. 

1,600-meter run: O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli was second in this event a year ago (4:57.06) and she’ll have some heavy competition from the likes of Lincoln’s Ali Bainbridge. Other contenders in this event are Stevens athlete Brionna Holso, Brandon Valley’s Addison Scholten, Spearfish’s Peyton VanDeest and Ruth Pardy. 

3,200-meter run: Lincoln’s Ali Bainbridge is the likely favorite here coming off a second place state meet finish (10.34.64). Stevens’ Brionna Holso, O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli, Spearfish’s Peyton VanDeest, O’Gorman’s Ruth Pardy and Brandon Valley’s Addison Scholten are all back to make for a very competitive field. 

100-meter hurdles: The state champion in this event will likely come from the quartet of Lincoln’s Dymond Nave, Stevens’ Claire Fierro, Washington’s Nyariek Kur and Brandon Valley’s Jayaunna Stroh. 

300-meter hurdles: O’Gorman’s Audrey Meyer (46.06) and Tierney Faulk (46.71) are the top two returners in this event. Other top contenders are Spearfish’s Anna Hoffman, Lincoln’s Dymond Nave, Central’s Madyson Wolfe and Stevens’ Claire Fierro. 

Shot put: Wide open event in 2023 with Harrisburg junior Grace Steffen and Lincoln’s Norah Christiansen the top athletes returning. Lincoln’s KIerra Lubovich, and Pierre athletes Reese Terwilliger and Maya Shorter will be in the mix. 

Discus: Pierre could score some big points in this event as Maya Shorter and Hannah Lemieux who were second and third at the state meet last year. Keep an eye on Watertown’s Malia Kranz who was fourth (117-5) at the state meet last year. 

Javelin: A second year event the Javelin field is wide open in 2023. Watertown’s Maddy Rohde is the top returner finishing second at the state meet (122-4) in 2022. Washington’s Isabel Carda, Stevens’ Brynn Nelson, Watertown’s Jaida Young, Pierre’s Maya Shorter, Brookings’ Landree Wilson and Huron’s Hamtyn Heinz were all on last year’s state podium. 

High jump: Brandon Valley’s Jayaunna Stroh was the state champion in this event (5-5) as an eighth grader. Spearfish’s Avery Kirk was second a year ago (5-4). Other returners are Brookings’ Tayla Dobrenski, Jefferson athletes Nancy Peter and Cadence Nuttbrock, Aberdeen Central’s Ciara Frank, Brandon Valley’s Kennedy Keiper and Pierre’s Danielle Beck will also be in contention. 

Pole vault: The top three vaulters from last season graduated leaving this event wide open in 2023. Harrisburg’s Kiah Boetel and Spearfish’s Gretchen Adamski vaulted 10-6 at the state meet and are among the favorites in this event. 

Long jump: A ton of talent returning in this event with Washington’s Nyariek Kur and Lincoln’s Ellen Merkley headlining the event. Six of the top eight from last year’s state meet all return and each of them jumped over 17-feet at the state meet. 

Triple jump: Brandon Valley’s Madison Pederson was second in this event (37-11.5) at the state meet. Other challengers will come from Washington’s Nyariek Kur, Jefferson’s Nancy Peter and O’Gorman’s Maeve Boetel.