By Rich Winter

605 Sports

When Rapid City Central track coach Pat Moriarity attended basketball games this winter he couldn’t believe the speed and quickness displayed by Cobbler senior Olowan Carlow. 

Moriarity remembered Carlow competing in distance events at Central as a freshman and came to the multi-sport standout this spring with a different pitch to go out for track.

“We started visiting with her during basketball season,” Moriarity said. “She told us she was coming out for track and we knew we needed her in the sprints so our challenge to her was to become a sprinter.”

The Central coaches knew Carlow was fast but couldn’t have expected the times she’s run so far this spring. Carlow has Class AA’s sixth fastest time in the 100-meter dash (:12.45), eighth fastest time in the 200-meter dash (:26.09) and fourth fastest in the 400-meter dash (1:00.16). 

Carlow took a circuitous route to arrive at Rapid City Central for her senior season. 

Having grown up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the daughter of Michael Jr. and Stephanie Carlow, played varsity basketball and ran the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run for Pine Ridge High School during her eighth-grade year. 

“I transferred to Rapid City Central my freshman year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Carlow said. “They were one of the only schools in my area that was playing basketball and I had an uncle that welcomed me into his home.” 

Carlow transferred back to Pine Ridge for her sophomore season, playing basketball and then dabbling in sprinting that year for the Thorpes. 

“My sophomore year I think I remember running the 100-meter run in :13.5 and the 200-meter run in 27-something,” she said. “When I look back at it there wasn’t any technique being taught and there were no set rules.” 

Carlow spent her junior year at Mahpiya Luta and made it to the state basketball tournament. Carlow said she is thankful for that experience but longed for more competition on a nightly basis. 

“I am really grateful for getting to play for coach Matt Rama and be part of that team,” she said. “We beat teams by a lot every night so for my senior year I decided to go back to Rapid City where I knew all the girls and a place where I knew I could get better.” 

Carlow was part of a Central team that finished 9-11, bowing to rival Rapid City Stevens in the SoDak 16. Carlow was a Class AA honorable mention all-state basketball player and is being recruited by a number of small colleges. 

As Carlow took to the track this spring the Cobbler coaches theories on how fast Carlow could be were instantly confirmed. Moriarity said he’s surprised the senior has blossomed so quickly without a lot of training and technique leading into this season. 

“Sometimes it’s almost like working with a first-year sprinter who hasn’t competed much,” Moriarity said. “She asks a lot of questions because she wants to be better at everything.” 

Carlow’s ‘aha’ moment came earlier this spring with a close loss to Rapid City Stevens sophomore Ella Bradeen in a 100-meter dash event. 

“Ever since that race I’ve been hungry and my times just keep getting better,” she said. 

The main component to this track season for Carlow is having fun. Unlike basketball, and at any venue, Carlow says she is not feeling any pressure. 

“When I was younger I used to be very competitive, a win at all costs kind of mentality,” she said. “I love to compete but even the fastest heats do not put any pressure on me.” 

Carlow is attending her first Howard Wood Dakota Relays this weekend. She’ll be running on several relays for the Cobblers and running in the open 400-meter run on Saturday morning. 

Carlow feels like 400 meters is the perfect distance for her and her coach feels like his senior is ready to uncork a big effort Saturday. 

“The only time we’ve had her run the 400 she was virtually unchallenged,” Moriarity said. “She is just so smooth on the track and we feel like she can easily run in the 58-flat range.”