SIOUX FALLS — The pressure was off Dustin Wurtz, and that led to a Class B boys discus state championship. 

Against a field of elite throwers, the Leola senior claimed the Class B state championship at Thursday’s South Dakota state track and field meet at Howard Wood Stadium. 

Wurtz entered as the No. 7 seed, as Centerville’s Alec Austin, Bennett County’s Caysen Soderlin and Philip’s Evan Kroetch headlined the 24-thrower field. 

With the pressure off, Wurtz recorded a toss of 163-feet and 11-inches for the state championships. 

“I was very calm,” Wurtz said. “I feel like I didn’t have very much pressure on me because I came in like seventh I think, and I just threw and I threw very well.” 

Wurtz’s second throw in the third flight was measured at 157-7. Kroetch, who finished second, logged a throw of 155-1 in the finals. Wurtz cemented his state championship with his 163-11 mark in the finals. 

“It feels great,” Wurtz said. “I wasn’t expecting to win today but I am very glad that I did.” 

Wurtz’s final throw was also boosted by the customary claps from competitors and fans alike. 

“Everyone started clapping, the blood started pumping, the adrenaline was skyrocketing and everything just landed perfectly and it came off my hand real nice,” Wurtz said. “It almost went out of bounds, but it came and everything just worked out.”

After Kroetch, Avon’s Al Gunter finished third with a toss of 149-7. 

For Wurtz, it came two years after he was seeded No. 1 entering the state meet. 

“It kind of took me back to my sophomore year when I got second in discus when I came in first, came out second,” Wurtz said. “So it just made me feel a little nostalgic coming in first.”

Wurtz will compete in the shot put on Friday, and enters the event as the No. 1 seed.