By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — In the first meet of the season, Rapid City Stevens’ Ava Holzwarth made her mark early with a nearly two-foot personal best 19 feet, 6 inches in the girls' long jump at the West River AA Preview on March 27.

Since that meet, Holzwarth has struggled to get back into the 19-foot range. 

That was until Thursday, when Holzwarth bested her record by two inches with a 19-8 on her third jump of the day while competing in the Crosstown Classic against Rapid City Central at O’Harra Stadium.

“I’m feeling really good,” Holzwarth said after the jump. “I mean, I finally PR’d this time — it just feels really good. It's great. I mean, heading into the state meet is great. And maybe my next goal is the state record.”

Holzwarth, a sophomore, finished her freshman year with a third-place finish at the state meet with a jump of 17-9.25 last year. 

Now with a nearly two-foot personal best, Holzwarth has distanced herself from the rest of the pack.

Sturgis’ Avery Marler is currently second in Class AA in the girls' long jump with a leap of 18-4.25.

“From her freshman to sophomore, even last year, surprisingly, she got close to 18 (feet),” Rapid City Stevens head coach Paul Hendry said. “She works so hard in the off season, in the weight room, and playing soccer and stuff so I knew she was gonna get better. 

“I didn't realize that it was gonna be by two feet, so that's awesome. It's kind of exciting to see how far she can go.”

Holzwarth said she’s been enjoying her sophomore season as not only does she lead the state in the long jump, but is also a part of the Rapid City Stevens’ state record-holding 400-meter relay team, is seventh in the 100-meter dash and the Raiders’ 800-meter relay team that is currently fifth in the rankings.

“I got my long jump, 4x100, 4x200 team — this year just really feels great,” Holzwarth said.

Rapid City Stevens' Ava Holzwarth reacts to her mark of 19-8 while competing in the Crosstown Classic track meet between Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central on Thursday at O'Harra Stadium. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

Now two weeks away from the state meet, Holzwarth is starting to peak at the right time.

Hendry said Holzwarth and her teammates, especially on the relay teams, have put in the work in practice to continue to get better. Focusing on little details, especially.

“Her struggling is a lot of people's good days, but she really wants to jump well,” Hendry said. “And I think it's good to get that Mark going into the last couple weeks here before state.”

Holzwarth’s mark of 19-8 is now third all-time behind a pair of Sioux Falls Washington Warriors, Kari Heck (20-03.5) and Nyariek Kur (19-10).

Heading into state, Holzwarth said, since the Douglas meet, she was overthinking it when she was out there jumping. And said she now focuses on herself and what she’s capable of, and not worrying about the competition.

“I was definitely getting into my own head thinking ‘I gotta beat it,’ instead of just going out and just jumping my best,” she said. “I just try not to focus on (the competition), not focus on like their PRs or their jumps. I'm focusing on myself and making sure I jump my best.”