SIOUX FALLS — A heavily favored Sioux Falls Christian boys track team will sleep in their own beds this week as the Charger aim for a third consecutive Class A state track and field championship. 

Sprinters, distance runners, hurdlers, half-milers and improved efforts in the field events all contribute to a superb program that continues to reload every year. 

Senior Josiah Adams will not be running relays this weekend but Adams has Class A’s fastest times in the 100-meter dash (:10.54), 200-meter dash (:22.38), 110-meter hurdles (:14.87) and 300-meter hurdles (:38.54). Senior Isaac Davelaar wraps up his outstanding prep career where he has top times in the 800-meter run (1:53.22), the second fastest time in the 1,600-meter run (4:24.39). No stranger to championship relays, Davelaar could run on the 3,200 meter relay, the medley relay or the 1,600-meter relay. The Chargers have top times in every relay heading into the state meet, and even with top athletes running open events, the depth of the program will likely still dominate. Thrower Paul Hoekman is only a sophomore but has top-four throws in the shot put and discus and Kennan Voss has the third fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles. 

The fight for second place should be a battle as teams like Custer, Milbank, Belle Fourche, West Central and Platte-Geddes all are expected to score big points. 

Custer senior Blake Boyster will be looking for a third consecutive 400-meter dash title. He also has the third fastest times in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Custer’s 3,200 meter relay team has run (8:15.98) this season. Great time but only good enough for the No. 5 time in Class A this year. Contributions from Gage Grohs in the 1,600 meter run could be helpful. The Wildcat boys do have the second-fastest times in the 400-meter relay and 1,600 meter relay. Keep an eye on Custer pole vaulter Robbie Emery in the pole-vault and Kincaid Lehman in the triple-jump. 

One of the dark horses in Class A this year is Platte-Geddes. 

Senior Lee Reiser is heavily favored to win the shot put and discus and pole vaulter Camden DuFrain went from a 12-0 vaulter to a 14-0 contender in just one meet. The Platte-Geddes 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay have both broken school records multiple times late in the season and the Panthers could score big there to jump into the team title conversation. 

Don’t be surprised if West Central moves up the leader-board on Saturday. Layton Johnson and Wyatt Nielsen are terrific in the short sprints with junior Jade Jarding having a sub-50 400-meter dash time. The Trojans 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay, 1,600-meter relay and sprint medley relay each could score 6-8 points per relay. 

Athletes to watch: 

• Deuel freshman Oliver Fieber has Class A’s fourth best time in the 100-meter dash (:10.94). 

• Hill City junior Luke Rupert has the third best Class A time in the 3,200 meter relay (9:33.43) and freshman Tate Grabow has the seventh fastest time of (9:56.89).

• Hamlin sophomore Zac VanMeetern has Class A’s second fastest time in the 200-meter dash (:22.44) and the Chargers are highly ranked teams in the 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay and 1,600 meter relay. 

• Jeffrey Boschee, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket has been dialed in on the high jump late in the season. The junior has the best leap in the state of 6-7.25. 

• Tiospa Zina’s Mike Smith has blasted his way into the upper-echelon of Class A long jumpers and has a season’s best jump of 20-11. 

• Lennox’s Layne Kuper in both hurdling disciplines and the long jump. 

• MVP’s Reed Rus in the hurdles and high jump. Rus has really turned a corner in the 110-meter hurdles and has a chance to run under :15.00. 

• Elk Point-Jefferson’s Joe Cross: Isaac Davelaar and Belle Fourche’s Sawyer Clarkson will grab headlines but Cross is having a terrific junior season and has run a 9:27 in the 3,200-meter run.