By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Take even a cursory glance at the Class B boys top performers list and it is clear the Chester Area boys are one of the better teams in the B ranks. Chester Area has top times in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump and 400 meter relay, along with a number of athletes that are highly ranked. 

After finishing third as a team in 2021 behind Hanson (moved to Class A) and Viborg-Hurley, the Flyers look like a team that will contend in late May. 

After finishing second in four events (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and 400 meter relay) at the 2021 state track meet senior Ryan Benson, has been quick in his first few meets. 

“Ryan is really confident and came into this season stronger than ever,” Chester Area track coach Misty Larson said. 

Benson has the fastest Class B hurdles times this spring. 

110-meter hurdles: :15.04

300-meter hurdles: :40.93

He also has the third best high jump with a leap of 6-00. 

“Ryan’s very motivated this year and he’s certainly one of our leaders,” Larson said. “He will be going to South Dakota State next fall to compete in the multi-events (decathlon).” 

Sophomore Jovi Wolf has exploded onto the Class B track & field scene this spring with top times in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump

100 meters: :11.04 (ties school record)

200 meters: :22.14 (broke his own school record)

Long jump: 21-05.5 (broke Dan VanLiere’s 1999 record of 21-03.75)

Larson knows Wolf is a rare talent coming through the program but she feels like there is room for some improvement. 

“Jovi has come on strong and our goal is to be the best at the end of the season,” she said. “We’ve only barely tapped into what he can do and there are some technique things where he can get better.” 

First-place finishes at the state track meet are worth 10 points. Based on Benson and Wolf, the Flyers look like they will score some big points at the state meet. 

This is no two-man team though and the Flyers have other athletes that will likely contend for podium finishes. 

Senior Stratton Eppard, a multi-event sprinter/thrower, is ranked in three individual events. 

200 meters: :23.84 (fifth fastest in Class B)

400 meters: :54.10 (fourth fastest in Class B)

Discus: 127-07 (sixth best in Class B)

“Stratton is one of our leaders,” Larson said. “He’s a strong discus thrower and I feel like he’ll continue to get better as the season progresses.” 

Senior ​​Alex VanEgdom has the fifth fastest 100 meter time in Class B (:11.54)

Those are four fast fellas so it is no surprise Chester Area has the top Class B time in the 400-meter relay (:44.22). That same quartet already holds the Chester Area school record in this event with a :43.99 that was run in 2021. 

Larson said the four athletes on the 400-meter relay have one thing in common. 

“They have all been very dedicated to the weight room,” she said. 

Another guy who has been in the weight room is senior Brock Wages. At the 2021 state meet Wages’ best throw in the shot put was 38-11.25. In his only outdoor meet of the year, Wages unleashed the 2nd best throw in Class B (49-03.25). 

“This is only his second year out for track so there is a huge window for him to get better,” Larson said. “He’s also pretty fast so our coaches are excited to see what he can do.” 

While the Chester Area coaches will be figuring out which events will score the most points, Larson said they will load up some relays for the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in early May. 

“Howard Wood is all about the relays and this year we have a strong group of guys and we always take pride in our relays,” she said “There is a strong possibility that we will run them tough but we have to have good exchanges and that’s something we’ll focus on in the next few weeks.”