By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Every time Mount Vernon/Plankinton junior Berkeley Engelland steps on the track you get the feeling something special could happen. 

Engelland wrapped up her 2023 Howard Wood Dakota Relay experience with a fourth-place finish in the Girls Special 200-meter run, a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash, a title in the 400-meter run and a meet record in the medley relay. 

"I love coming to this meet and this venue because I get to run against the best of the best from different states that I normally don’t get to run against,” Engelland said. 

Engelland typically competes in individual events ranging from the 100-meter dash to the 800-meter run. On Saturday Engelland was joined on the track by Madalynn Long, Jaylin Johnson and Reagan Rus in the medley relay. 

The pair of eighth graders and the junior, Rus put Engelland near the front of the race. Engelland sprinted past Sioux Falls Christian’s Corrine Braun and crossed the line in a Class A meet record of (4:10.97).

“I haven’t run on a relay for awhile so that was important to me,” she said. “I got to do it with my sister (Rus) and some other very close friends. I hope that race gives those younger girls some confidence. We lost some important seniors last year and now we are back.” 

A year ago Engelland finished second in the girls special event 800-meter run. She owns the sixth fastest 800-meter run in South Dakota prep history (2:11.76). 

About an hour after the medley relay Engelland won the 400-meter dash (:55.61). That time is the eight fastest in South Dakota girls track history. 

On Friday night Engelland set a personal best of (:24.88) in the 200-meter dash while finishing fourth in that event. 

“The race last night was amazing and I felt fortunate to be part of that,” she said. “I struggled a little bit in the 100-meter dash but I am really looking forward to the final.”

For good measure Engelland took home one more medal when she finished third in the 100-meter dash final (:12.37). She ran a (:12.18) in Friday’s semifinals 

Engelland has the fastest South Dakota times in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 800-meter run.