Sports

Rapid City Stevens' Simeon Birnbaum runs at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays earlier this season in Sioux Falls.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Rapid City Stevens, Brandon Valley will be in the mix for Class AA boys track and field title

May 24, 2023

SIOUX FALLS — If the 2023 Class AA boys race to a team title is anything close to 2022, South Dakota track fans are in for a treat.

Harrisburg won the title last year with 94 points after Rapid City Stevens (90) false-started in the final event, the 1,600-meter relay.

Brandon Valley has a bunch of good relay teams, good hurdlers and several standouts in the field events. Lynx sophomore Landon Dulaney has the second fastest 200-meter dash (:21.83) and could also score points in the 100-meter dash. Aaron VanHemert has the fastest 300-meter hurdles time (:39.55). The Lynx will score points in just about every relay with the 800-meter relay being their best opportunity to win a relay. Discus throwers Brayden Cline and Tristan Niewenhuis should score big points. Landon Dulaney has Class AA’s No. 2 long jump (22-5) while triple jumpers Grayden Binger and Wyatt Melcher are the top two jumpers in that event. Pole vaulters Spencer Warkentien and Dylan Paauw will add points as the No. 3 and No. 4 ranked vaulters.

For Rapid City Stevens, Simeon Birnbaum is entered in the 800-meter run, 1,600 meter run, 3,200-meter run and a relay, which might mean 40 points for the Raiders. Sprinters Julian Scott (100-meter dash) and Cael Meisman (200-meter dash) will both need to score points. Any points from distance runner Grady Loos will be helpful. The depth and quality of athletes at Stevens should help the Raiders score points in every relay. Junior high jumper Beck Morgan is tied for the Class AA lead (6-4) while Mandinko Hawley will contribute in the long jump.

Sioux Falls Lincoln, Yankton, Aberdeen Central and Harrisburg will also be in the mix.

Athletes to watch:

Kael Miedema, Washington: It hasn’t been the best year for Miedema but the future Nebraska Cornhusker has come on strong. He leads the AA shot put (63-8, No. 9 all-time in South Dakota) and leads the discus (196-6, No. 3 all time in South Dakota.
Jefferson’s Griffin Wilde: Talented in very different disciplines: Best time in the 400-meter dash (:49.51), best long jump (22-5) and second best javelin throw (177-7).
Griffin Fischer, Lincoln: The sophomore sprinter has the top time in the 200-meter dash (:21.75) and the second fastest 100-meter dash time (:10.80).
Mikah Peters, Brandon Valley: The freshman has the sixth fastest 3,200 meter run in Class AA (9:39.93).
Sturgis junior Aiden Hedderman has the fastest 110-meter hurdle time (:14.62) and the seventh fastest 300-meter hurdles time (41:19). He’s also a 13-0 pole vaulter and is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Scoopers next fall.
Simeon Birnbaum record watch: The future Oregon Duck already holds the state meet record in the 800-meter run (1:51.03). He could challenge Rod DeHaven’s 1984 state meet record in the 1,600-meter run (4:09.8).