By Rich Winter

605 Sports

For all the cold, rain, snow and wind that accompanied the month of April, Hamlin shot put and discus standout Gracelyn Leiseth remained patient. 

With personal bests of 45-5 in the shot put (No. 9 all-time in South Dakota) and 149-3 in the discus (No. 8 all time in South Dakota), both coming during her sophomore seasons, Leiseth has been chomping at the bit for some outdoor action in this her junior year.               

Adding fuel to her fire was the knowledge that she twice threw the shot put over 47-feet during indoor competitions. 

“The weather has been kind of a bummer,” Leiseth said. 

At April 21’s Kiwanis relays in Clear Lake, Leiseth shook the rust off almost a month without competition. 

Her shot put effort of 46-06 moved her to No. 4 on the all-time South Dakota list. Her discus mark of 145-05 was less than four feet off her personal best. 

“I was a little bit nervous on Thursday so I was thankful just to get a mark in both events,” she said. 

At Friday’s Watoma Relays in Watertown Leiseth went even bigger. 

Her 48-10 in the shot put moved her to No. 2 all time, less than an inch away from Kellyn Kortemeyer’s (Custer) state record (48-10.75). 

“She looked really good,” said Hamlin throws coach Ashley Heinrich. “You could tell it was long and as the season gets warmer we’re expecting her to get better.”

Her 148-02 in the discus Friday was about a foot off her personal best. 

“She’s very technically sound,” Heinrich said. “She is very good at hitting all parts of the shot and discus and she has a huge support system with her family.”

Boy does she.

Her father David was a standout thrower at Hamlin before taking his talents to South Dakota State. Older brother Mason played football and did track in college at SDSU (he has the No. 3 shot put and the No. 9 discus throw in the history of Jackrabbit track and field). Older brother Tristen also threw collegiately for the Jackrabbits and older sister Faith broke the SDSU record in the discus Saturday with a throw of 174-01.50.

“Tristen is my support and helps keep my nerves in check and someone I go to for advice,” Leiseth said. “Faith has also helped me a lot and has been another coach along with my older brother.” 

It doesn’t hurt that Leiseth practices every day with Kami Wadsworth, a senior teammate. Wadsworth put the shot (40-9.5) on Friday while reaching (126-04) in the discus on Thursday. 

“Kami isn’t quite the thrower that Gracelyn is but they push each other and help one another not be satisfied with their current throws,” Heinrich said. 

Pushing Leiseth even more is the aforementioned Kellyn Kortemeyer of Custer. The Nebraska bound senior holds the state record in the shot put and has reached 146-06 in the discus so far this spring. 

Leiseth says she tries not to keep track of her west river rival but looks forward to seeing her at next month’s Howard Wood Dakota Relays. 

Heinrich and Leiseth were both happy with their opening weekend but look forward to warmer weather and improving the little technical things in her throwing motion. 

“You have to hit your positions and keep up with your technique,” Leiseth said. 

The South Dakota state record in the discus is 163-00.00 by Pierre’s Karen McDonald in 1979. Only three athletes in South Dakota — McDonald, Susan Sherman Sioux Falls Roosevelt, (159-02, 1998) and Sara Stevens of Hot Springs (151-08) — have ever cracked the 150-foot barrier.