605 Sports Staff

The Colman-Egan girls track team scored points all over the track and field last May to easily win the Class B girls state track title. The Hawks return some heavy hitters this spring including the return of high jumper/sprinter Josie Mousel. 

Sprinter Daniela Lee won the 100 and 200 meter dashes last spring. Reese Luze was second in the 400 meter dash and won the 800 meter run. The Hawks will have to replace hurdler Mackenzie Hemmer who was dominant during her run at Colman-Egan. After missing her junior year because of injury former state high jump champion and relay sprinter Josie Mousel returns for her senior year. 

Athletes to watch: 

• Skyler Volmer - Lyman’s Volmer is a threat to win any event she enters including the 100 meter hurdles, the long jump, the high jump and the triple jump 

• Daniela Lee: Colman Egan sprinter doubles in the 100 and 200 meter dashes while running on the sprint relay teams. 

• Emery Larson: Chester Area athlete was the Class B cross country champion last fall. Coming from a speed background she could run anything from 200 meters to 3,200 meters. 

• Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide is the defending Class B champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. 

• Ashton Massey: Menno athlete should be a high finisher in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles along with the triple jump. 

Event previews: 

100 meter dash: Colman-Egan junior Daniela Lee dominated this event last season with a winning time of (:12.51). Howard’s Melanie Calmus, Castlewood’s Mackenzie Everson, Briana DeGroot and Alcester-Hudson’s Carly Patrick will be in the hunt for high places. 

200 meter dash: In the 200 meter dash at the state meet Lee edged Calmus for a second state title. Plenty of other returning state placewinners including Aberdeen Christian’s Shawnteah La Croix, Alcester-Hudson’s Carly Patrick and Castlewood’s Mackinzie Everson. 

400 meter dash: Three Class B girls ran sub-60 at the state meet with Irene-Wakonda’s Emma Marshall edging Colman-Egan’s Reese Luze and Howard’s Melanie Calmus. Potter County’s Dannika Kaup, Castlewood’s Mackenzie Everson and Wall’s Paige Kjerstad could make this a very interesting event. 

800 meter run: Colman Egan’s Reese Luze ran (2:19.22) to edge Chester Area’s Emery Larson. With the addition of athletes like Emma Schlachter of Potter County, Dell Rapids St. Mary’s Madala Hanson and Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide the field could see a number of extremely quick times by the state meet. 

1,600 meter run: Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide won the 1,600 meter run (5:21.41). Burke’s Kailee Frank, Highmore-Harrold’s Autumn Fallis, Ipswich’s Madisyn Gellhaus and Frederick Area’s Morgan Sumption are all Class B contenders. 

3,200 meter run: Boekelheide pulled away over the final laps of this event at the state meet last year to win in (11:33.48). Burke’s Frank, Highmore-Harrold’s Fallis and Freeman Academy/Marion’s Jada Koerner all have just a little more experience under their belts and will be in the hunt. 

100 meter hurdles: Lyman’s Skyler Volmer finished second a year ago (:15.88) and is the top returner. Freeman’s Rylee Peters was third as a seventh grader. Menno’s Ashton Massey and Burke’s Piper Hanson will all be pushing for higher spots on the podium. 

300 meter hurdles: Menno’s Ashton Massey finished third a year ago (:48.60) and she was followed to the line by a pair of seventh graders in Chester Area’s Jacy Wolf and Freeman’s Rylee Peters. Piper Hanson of Burke and Emma Hunt of Jones County will also make some noise this season. 

Shot put: A breakout state track meet for Estelline/Hendricks athlete Danielle Hawley who won with a throw of (40-10.75). Sully Buttes senior Lydia Hill and Brenna Held of James Valley Christian should make this event worth watching. 

Discus: Lydia Hill finished third a year ago (119-9) and is the top returner. Jaycee Tebay of Dell Rapids St. Mary along with Rylee Rudebusch of Howard and Paige Bull of Burke could make this field very competitive by May. 

High jump: Lyman’s Skyler Volmer is the favorite after finishing second (5-4) a year ago. Miller’s Ally Mullaney, De Smet’s Jada Burke and Harding County’s Lexy Rolph are all expected to improve this season. 

Pole vault: Sadie Johnson of Estelline/Hendricks was the top vaulter at the state meet clearing 10-3. Kadoka Area’s Gracie Eienbraun along with Ipswich athletes Marley Guthmiller and Quincy Oliver will all be in the mix for team points and high jumps. 

Long jump: Avon’s Courtney Sees topped the state meet field last year with a leap of (16-10.75) edging Alcester-Hudson’s Carly Patrick (16-9.25). Those two athletes along with Platte-Geddes’ Regan Hoffman, Wolsey-Wessington’s Mya Boomsma and Lyman’s Skyler Volmer make up an intriguing field with loads of talent. 

Triple jump: Lyman’s Skyler Volmer is your top returner coming off a third place finish (33-10), Menno’s Ashton Massey and Estelline/Hendricks’ Sadie Johnson all finished in the top-five a year ago.