By Rich Winter

605 Sports

A year ago Spearfish sprinter Jaden Guthmiller was a wide-eyed, first year participant, at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. As a sophomore the Spearfish Spartan ran in a couple of relays and flashed some big-time potential finishing 5th in the 100-meter dash (11.01). 

At the Class AA state track meet in 2021 Guthmiller finished 4th in the 100-meter dash (:10.69) and 3rd in the 200-meter dash (:22.13). 

This fall just before the start of football season the Spartans lost their starting quarterback (Seth Hamilton) to injury. Guthmiller moved to QB and after splitting reps early took over the starting role, going 4-2 on a team that broke a 25-game losing streak. 

Guthmiller says he’s more of a track guy than a football guy. Through the early portion of the track season that track guy has been laying down some special times.

 100-meter dash: :10.70, top time in South Dakota

 200-meter dash: :21.74.

Those credentials helped Guthmiller receive an invitation to compete in Friday’s special event 200-meter dash. Guthmiller says he’s ready for the experience. 

“The energy in that stadium with the sheer amount of people to watch everyone compete at the highest level is just special,” he said. “Being the No. 1 seed is a little stressful but in all reality it is just an honor to go out there and compete.” 

Howard Wood` 200 Special participants:

Lane 1 - Sam Rohlf’s, Aberdeen Central

Lane 2 - Blake Boyster, Custer

Lane 3 - Jovi Wolf, Chester Area

Lane 4 - Jaden Guthmiller, Spearfish

Lane 5 - Julian Watson, Brandon Valley

Lane 6 - Dawson Hawkinson, Bismarck (N.D.)

Lane 7 - Quentin Lewis, Dickinson, (N.D.)

Lane 8 - Ben Stratman, Harrisburg

Alternate - Tim Bishop, Harrisburg

Guthmiller also plans to run in the 100-meter dash at Howard Wood while also seeing action in several relays. Guthmiller confirmed by telephone Sunday that Spearfish would be running the 1,600 meter sprint medley relay. 

The Spartans have the best time in South Dakota (3:36.31) in the medley relay. Keenan Urdiales, the anchor of that relay, just broke his own school record in the 1,600 meter run (4:18.37 - old record, Urdiales 4:19.20) when he finished third in the Stutler Twilight meet in Greenwood Colorado.