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Custer, Sioux Falls Christian and Mt. Vernon/Plankinton expected to contend for Class A track and field title
Mount Vernon/Plankinton's Berkeley Engelland competes at the Greenway Relays earlier this season in Mount Vernon.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)
May 25, 2022
 

By 605 Sports Staff

The battle for the Class A girls track and field title should be a good one with Sioux Falls Christian, Custer and Mt. Vernon/Plankinton all sent a number of high-profile athletes to the state meet. 

Custer: Jordyn Larson has the No. 2, 100-meter dash time (:12.48) and the top time in the 200-meter dash (:25.72). Josey Wahlstrom has Class A’s third fastest 400-meter dash (:59.68) and 4th best pole vault (9-6). The Wildcats have athletes ranked in the 800-meter run and 1,600 meter run with junior Ramsey Karim entering the meet with the No. 2 time in the 3,200 meter run (11:23.25). Custer’s 1,600 meter relay has Class A’s No. 2 time (4:09.88), their 3,200 meter relay team is ranked No. 3 (9:52.37) and the sprint medley relay checks in at No. 2 (4:23.02). 

Custer's Kellyn Kortemeyer competes in the discus throw at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

In the field events Kellyn Kortemeyer has the No. 2 shot put (46-11) and No. 1 discus throw (157-1) and freshman Ciana Stiefel has the third highest pole vault (10-0). 

Sioux Falls Christian will likely plug together some terrific relay teams. The Chargers have the No. 2, 400-meter relay time (:50.46), the No. 3, 800-meter relay time (1:46.46), the top 1,600 meter relay team (4:09.54) the top 3,200 meter relay team (9:30.07) and the fastest sprint medley team (4:13.38). 

Eighth-grader Ellie Maddox has top times in the 1,600-meter run (5:06.27) and the top time in the 3,200 meter run (11:13.86). Freshman Anna Vyn has Class A’s second fastest 400-meter dash time (:58.26). The Chargers don’t have much in the field events so athletes like Rylee Punt, 9-6 in the pole vault will need to score some points. 

Mt. Vernon/Plankinton’s hopes for a team title rest heavily on sophomore Berkeley Engelland. Top ranked in the 400-meter dash (:57.24) and the 800-meter run (2:11.75). Mt. Vernon/Plankinton has the No. 3 sprint medley time (4:24.57) and the No. 3, 1,600 meter relay time (4:10.17). If Mt. Vernon/Plankinton hopes to contend they will need help in the field events. Sophomore Clara Fink has the 4th best shot put (38-11). Emilee Fox is among Class A’s best high jumpers with a season’s best of 5-1 while Tessa Pickert has a top six mark in the triple jump (34-7). 


Athletes to watch:

Lexi Even, Parker: The senior sprinter is dangerous in any event or relay she’s part of. 

Jade Ecoffey, Red Cloud: 2021 state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. Should be in contention for high podium spots in the 800-meter and 1,600 meter runs. 

Silja Gunderson, Dakota Valley: Top time in the 100-meter hurdles (:15.51) and No. 2 time in the 300-hurdles (:47.93). 

Gracelyn Leiseth, Hamlin: Has twice broken the state shot put record (49-3.25). Her (155-6 in the discus trails only Kortemeyer’s 157-1.

Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner: Looking for a second straight high jump title and has the best leap inthe field (5-6). 

Ellie Brozik, Winner: Won a state triple jump title as a freshman, has the top mark coming into the Class A state meet. 

Sophia Atchison, Dakota Valley: Top Class A mark in the pole vault (11-6) and has signed with the University of Arizona. 


Girls Results

100-Meter Dash: Shayla Howell, Belle Fourche, :12.01, 2018.  

200-Meter Dash: Althea Meeter, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, :25.15, 1991. 

400-Meter Dash: Caelyn Valandra-Prue, Todd County, :56.52, 2017. 

800-Meter Run: Haleigh Timmer, St. Thomas More, 2:13.61, 2018. 

1,600-Meter Run: Heidi Reed, Canton, 5:03.61, 1991

3,200-Meter Run: Heidi Reed, Canton, 11:08.85, 1991

100-Meter Hurdles: Avery Schmeichel, West Central, :14.64, 2021

300-Meter Hurdles: Amy Allerd, Jefferson, :44.60, 1981

400-Meter Relay: St. Thomas More, :49.19 (Kirsch, Carlson, Eckrich, Carlson), 2016. 

800-Meter Relay: St. Thomas More, 1:44.21 (Koth, Smith, Stern, Velgersdyk), 2014. 

1,600-Meter Relay: Sioux Falls Christian, 3:59.52 (Koth, Stern, Oostra, Velgersdyk), 2014. 

3,200-Meter Relay: Custer, 9:26.26 (Delmont, Sedlacek, Parys, Glazier), 2016.

Sprint Medley Relay: St. Thomas More, 4:10.37 (Kirsch, Eckrich, Kirsch, Cooper), 2016.

High Jump: Stacey Johnson, Platte, 5-9, 1985. 

Long Jump: Shayla Howell, Belle Fourche, 19-3, 2018. 

Triple Jump: Shayla Howell, Belle Fourche, 39-9.25, 2017.  

Discus: Sarah Stevens, Hot Springs, 151-08, 2001. 

Shot Put: Lynnae Fox, Newell, 46-3.5, 2005.

Pole Vault: Carolyn Groeger, Lead-Deadwood, 11-10, 2018.