By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Field events and special events are highly thought of but it is the relays that garner the most attention at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays.

As teams and athletes from the upper midwest descend on Sioux Falls for the 100th annual event, teams will be gunning to etch their names into the upper stratosphere of some all time great relays.

In the Class AA girls relays, Rapid City Stevens (:48.59) and Pierre (:48.86) are both within striking distance of the Howard Wood record (:48.33) in the 400-meter relay. Sioux Falls Lincoln’s 800-meter relay team (1:42.47) is close to the Howard Wood record of (1:40.64). 

Brandon Valley (3:56.38) in the 1,600-meter relay and (4:05:63 in the sprint medley relay are are close enough to record territory to pay attention anytime the Lynx girls run.

In the Class A girls relays, Sioux Falls Christian has run 4:01.13 in the 1600-meter relay. The Charger girls set the meet record in 2024 (4:00.58). The Charger girls have run 9:07.43 in the 3,200-meter relay this season, a mark well under the meet record of 9:20.53). 

In Class B, the Bennett County girls will be looking to break Ipswich’s 2015 record in the 400-meter relay (:50.49). The Warriors have a :49.03 to their credit already this season. 

With Legacy High School of North Dakota rewriting Class AA records and Sioux Falls Christian dominating the records in the Class A relays, breaking boys records will be tough this weekend. 

In the Class B 400-meter relay, the Colman-Egan boys have a :43.82 time to their credit this season. The Class B record for that event is currently held by Viborg-Hurley High School (:43.35) from 2021. 

Girl’s Records:

Class AA Girls Relay Records:

400-Meter Relay: Fargo Davies High School (:48.33), 2017.

800-Meter Relay: Fargo Davies High School, (1:40.64), 2018.

1,600-Meter Relay: Brandon Valley, (3:52.9), 2017.

Sprint Medley Relay, Sioux City East, (4:02.27), 2009.

3,200-Meter Relay: (9:08.61), 2005.

Class A Girls Relay Records:

400-Meter Relay: Oak Grove Lutheran High School (:49.52), 2024

800-Meter Relay: West Central High School (1:43.86), 2023.

1,600-Meter Relay: Sioux Falls Christian, (4:00.58), 2024.

Sprint Medley Relay: Mount Vernon/Plankinton High School (4:10.97), 2023.

3,200-Meter Relay: Sioux Falls Christian High School (9:20.53), 2023.

Class B Girls Relay Records: 

400-Meter Relay: Ipswich (:50.49), 2015.

800-Meter Relay: Colman-Egan (1:47.32), 2023.

1,600-Meter Relay: Burke (4:03.94), 1978).

Sprint Medley Relay: Colman-Egan, (4:10.91), 2023.

3,200-Meter Relay: Colman-Egan (9:49.42), 2023

Class AA boys Relay Records:

400-Meter Relay: Legacy High School (:41.50), 2023.

800-Meter Relay: Legacy High School (1:26.05), 2023.

1,600-Meter Relay: Legacy High School (3:18.96), 2023.

Sprint Medley Relay: Sioux Falls Lincoln (3:27.44), 1973.

3,200-Meter Relay: Bismarck, North Dakota (7:46.08), 2010.

Class A boys Relay Records: 

400-Meter Relay: St. Thomas More, (:42.97), 2016.

800-Meter Relay: Sioux Falls Christian, (1:28.10), 2023.

1,600-Meter Relay: Alta, Iowa, (3:24.34), 1988.

Sprint Medley Relay: Sioux Falls Christian (3:30.45).

3,200-Meter Relay: Sioux Falls Christian (7:56.90).

Class B Boys Relay Records: 

400-Meter Relay: Viborg-Hurley High School (:43.35), 2021.

800-Meter relay: VIborg-Hurley High school (1:29.68), 2021.

1,600-Meter Relay: Colman-Egan High School 3:29.06), 2017.

Sprint Medley Relay: Armour, (3:32.84), 1978, Armour (3:32.84), 1980.

3,200-Meter Relay, 8:03.44), 1979.

1,600-Meter COED Relay: Sioux Falls Jefferson, (3:39.72), 2023.

Distance Medley Relay: Bismarck Century High School (10:39.01), 2024.