By Matt Gade

605 Sports

CUSTER — As a senior, Custer’s Jordyn Larsen has one goal before her high school career is over.

To win a gold medal.

Currently, the Wildcat is positioned to do just that. Not only win a gold, but possibly win multiple gold medals.

The three-sport athlete finds herself atop the Class A leaderboard in the girls' 100 and 200-meter dashes midway through the season.

Larsen is also a part of the Wildcats Class A leading 400-meter relay team (50.10). 

“We have a new way of training at practice, where we're just running as fast as you can with whatever we do, which I think has really helped with top-end speed,” Larsen said. “But now I just gotta get that start down, and then I'll be good.”

Larsen has recorded a season best 11.98 in the 100 meters during the Center of the Nation Invitational on April 16. The mark is not only the top in girls' Class A, but is second among all classes just behind Pierre’s Kali Ringstmeyer (11.86).

Larsen sits atop all classes in the 200 meters with a time of 24.86, clocked at the Queen City Classic on April 11.

A season ago, Larsen took second in the Class A 100 meters (12.33) and fourth in the 200 meters (26.74) at the state track meet.

Larsen said the biggest difference between her junior year and this year has been the mental aspect of her competing.

Larsen also served as a key player on both the Custer girls' volleyball and basketball teams the past few years. 

Larsen said while running is her favorite sport, basketball and volleyball were key in toughening her up on the mental side. 

“I really enjoy them all, but honestly, it’s the mental side of playing volleyball and basketball,” Larsen said of what’s the toughest aspect of being a multi-sport athlete. “I mean, there's always hardships, but having (sports) year-round. You just get used to it.”

While last year’s defending state champ in the Class A 100 and 200 meters, Bennett County’s Reagan O’Neill, has moved down to Class B this year, Larsen said she still enjoys getting to run against the best in the state.

That includes Pierre’s Ringstmeyer, whom Larsen competed against at the Pierre American Legion Relays on April 26.

“It's super fun. I love being able to talk to them at the start line and joke around, but then really lock in, and then we congratulate each other at the end of the race. It's really cool,” Larsen said of competing against Ringstmeyer and O’Neill. “It's fun having them in the race too, because when it comes down to it, you know that you're gonna have competition, which is always fun.”

In the Class A girls' 100 meters, Larsen is closely followed by Lennox’s Bergan Musser (12.21), Parker’s Braelyn Berens (12.38), Lead-Deadwood’s Nikiah Black (12.53) and Lennox Jayla DeCou (12.60) round out the top five. 

Custer's Jordyn Larsen runs the lead leg of the 4x100 meter relay race during the Center of the Nation Invitational. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

In the 200 meters, Larsen is followed by Musser (25.09), Black (25.60), Berens (25.74) and Sioux Falls Christian’s Halle Braun (25.80) for the top five. 

Earlier this year, Larsen signed her national letter of intent to continue her track career at the University of South Dakota.

Larsen said there were a lot of factors in picking USD over others. 

From the facilities, coaching staff and teammates, Larsen said her mom was the deciding factor.

“My mom went there to run track, so I thought that was kind of like one of my main (reasons), because it’s kind of cool to follow in her footsteps,” Larsen said.

On Friday, Larsen will compete at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays racing against the best sprinters across the state.

Larsen, who’s been managing a sore foot, said she’s just looking to compete and have good races.

But winning a gold medal at state is still the end goal.

“That’s my main goal this year, is to win that gold medal, no matter what it's in,” Larsen said. “It doesn't matter if it's the 100 or 200. I mean, I'm shooting for both, but if I get one, that's good too.”