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The Sioux Falls Lincoln track and field teams are used to breaking records. The Patriot boys either broke or finished just behind seven relay records in 2025 alone.
The same group of four – Javon Haukaas, Isaac Herrboldt, Zyan Conrad and Evan Abild -- set the state record in the boys 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter relays in the last month.
The latest was the 4x200-meter mark at the Rich Greeno Meet on their home track on Thursday, May 14. The team came in with a time of 1:26.10, beating the old record by 0.43 seconds. A Lincoln team of Haukaas, Abild, Mikey Roche and Griffin Fischer set that record a season ago.
“It’s really nothing new when it comes to our relay records,” Haukaas said. “We broke it five times last year in the 4x2 and 4x4.”
The four runners are a team for the first time this season. Abild and Herrboldt have been running on relay teams together for a few years, but Haukaas transferred to Lincoln before the 2024-25 school year and Conrad moved back to Sioux Falls this year.
“I came from a school that ran 3:38 in the 4x4, so breaking these records is crazy,” Conrad said. “I’m so grateful to have these teammates. That’s why I came here, for these guys.”
The record-breaking 4x200-meter run started with what Haukaas called “the longest 200 I’ve ever ran.” He gave the baton to Herrboldt, then Conrad made the pass to Abild. Conrad was proud of the exchange with his anchor, who emptied the tank for the state record.
Lincoln head coach Jim Jarovski was saying during the race that he felt the guys were slightly behind pace, but Abild’s final push put them over the top.
“I gave it everything I had,” Abild said. “I was dead there at the end. I didn’t know if we were going to get it. We got it. I was excited there, but I gave it everything I had.”
The 4x400-meter record was broken on April 16 at the Corn Palace Relays in Mitchell. The team came in with a time of 3:14.69, besting the previous record by 3.40 seconds.
That record nearly didn’t happen, as the four seniors created a plan to avoid running the race.
“The 4x4 is the last race, so everyone is tired and no one really wants to run it,” Herrboldt said. “You just talk about different things to keep our mind off it, and when the race comes, we’re ready.”
They said motivation to run the 4x400-meter relay, always the last race at a meet, can be pretty low at times, and the plan was for Haukaas to commit a false start or the baton to be dropped at some point.
About 20 minutes before the race, Conrad and Herrboldt were arguing about superhero fights, Abild was warming up and Jarovski gave his “infamous” Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant speech, so Haukaas knew the race was going to be run as planned.
They just so happened to run the fastest time in state history after.
“If I’m being honest, we didn’t want to run it,” Haukaas said. “We did not think we could hit 3:14. We thought we’d hit 3:18, the same thing we ran indoor. But we popped out.”
The state record was also called by Conrad’s dad before the season. He told Herrboldt and Abild they were going to run a 3:12, and everyone thought he was insane.
“To run 3:14 was a situation where I didn't think that they could probably go that fast,” Jarovski said. “I mean, that's really fast. Our state record, after they broke it, I got a ton of texts from different coaches. They way exceeded my expectations of what they could do, especially early in the season.”
They team is still a few seconds behind that mark, but are hoping to beat it at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, in June.
“Evan and Isaac were kind of shocked by it,” Conrad said. “(Three minutes, 12 seconds) is unheard of in the state of South Dakota. It probably will still be unheard of after us.”
This foursome has exceeded any and every expectation they’ve had for themselves or others have had for them – outside of Conrad’s dad. Jarovski feels it’s just a special group of guys that combine work ethic and natural talent flawlessly.
“They are four guys that are all Division I track athletes, and for us to have those four on the same team in the same year is pretty special,” Jarovski said. “It doesn't happen very often, and I think the sky is the limit for these guys. They can do they can do some pretty special things at state and the rest of their careers.”
The athletes attribute their success to their competitiveness. They’re always looking to best themselves when the in-state competition might be lagging behind.
“If anything, the pressure is between us four trying to run a better time,” Herrboldt said. “But during the race, it’s just us against the clock.”
With two state records in tow, Herrboldt still wants to collect one more. He feels there’s a chance to make a statement at the national meet and break a third South Dakota record to cap their careers.
“Having two feels a lot better than one,” Herrboldt said. “We’re going to get that time again. I’m personally not fine with two. We’re going to get that medley one at nationals. When we get three, I’ll be satisfied.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Lincoln boys relay team sets pair of state record in 2026
Continue reading...
The same group of four – Javon Haukaas, Isaac Herrboldt, Zyan Conrad and Evan Abild -- set the state record in the boys 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter relays in the last month.
The latest was the 4x200-meter mark at the Rich Greeno Meet on their home track on Thursday, May 14. The team came in with a time of 1:26.10, beating the old record by 0.43 seconds. A Lincoln team of Haukaas, Abild, Mikey Roche and Griffin Fischer set that record a season ago.
“It’s really nothing new when it comes to our relay records,” Haukaas said. “We broke it five times last year in the 4x2 and 4x4.”
The four runners are a team for the first time this season. Abild and Herrboldt have been running on relay teams together for a few years, but Haukaas transferred to Lincoln before the 2024-25 school year and Conrad moved back to Sioux Falls this year.
“I came from a school that ran 3:38 in the 4x4, so breaking these records is crazy,” Conrad said. “I’m so grateful to have these teammates. That’s why I came here, for these guys.”
The record-breaking 4x200-meter run started with what Haukaas called “the longest 200 I’ve ever ran.” He gave the baton to Herrboldt, then Conrad made the pass to Abild. Conrad was proud of the exchange with his anchor, who emptied the tank for the state record.
Lincoln head coach Jim Jarovski was saying during the race that he felt the guys were slightly behind pace, but Abild’s final push put them over the top.
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“I gave it everything I had,” Abild said. “I was dead there at the end. I didn’t know if we were going to get it. We got it. I was excited there, but I gave it everything I had.”
The 4x400-meter record was broken on April 16 at the Corn Palace Relays in Mitchell. The team came in with a time of 3:14.69, besting the previous record by 3.40 seconds.
That record nearly didn’t happen, as the four seniors created a plan to avoid running the race.
“The 4x4 is the last race, so everyone is tired and no one really wants to run it,” Herrboldt said. “You just talk about different things to keep our mind off it, and when the race comes, we’re ready.”
They said motivation to run the 4x400-meter relay, always the last race at a meet, can be pretty low at times, and the plan was for Haukaas to commit a false start or the baton to be dropped at some point.
About 20 minutes before the race, Conrad and Herrboldt were arguing about superhero fights, Abild was warming up and Jarovski gave his “infamous” Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant speech, so Haukaas knew the race was going to be run as planned.
They just so happened to run the fastest time in state history after.
“If I’m being honest, we didn’t want to run it,” Haukaas said. “We did not think we could hit 3:14. We thought we’d hit 3:18, the same thing we ran indoor. But we popped out.”
The state record was also called by Conrad’s dad before the season. He told Herrboldt and Abild they were going to run a 3:12, and everyone thought he was insane.
“To run 3:14 was a situation where I didn't think that they could probably go that fast,” Jarovski said. “I mean, that's really fast. Our state record, after they broke it, I got a ton of texts from different coaches. They way exceeded my expectations of what they could do, especially early in the season.”
You must be registered for see images
They team is still a few seconds behind that mark, but are hoping to beat it at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, in June.
“Evan and Isaac were kind of shocked by it,” Conrad said. “(Three minutes, 12 seconds) is unheard of in the state of South Dakota. It probably will still be unheard of after us.”
This foursome has exceeded any and every expectation they’ve had for themselves or others have had for them – outside of Conrad’s dad. Jarovski feels it’s just a special group of guys that combine work ethic and natural talent flawlessly.
“They are four guys that are all Division I track athletes, and for us to have those four on the same team in the same year is pretty special,” Jarovski said. “It doesn't happen very often, and I think the sky is the limit for these guys. They can do they can do some pretty special things at state and the rest of their careers.”
The athletes attribute their success to their competitiveness. They’re always looking to best themselves when the in-state competition might be lagging behind.
“If anything, the pressure is between us four trying to run a better time,” Herrboldt said. “But during the race, it’s just us against the clock.”
With two state records in tow, Herrboldt still wants to collect one more. He feels there’s a chance to make a statement at the national meet and break a third South Dakota record to cap their careers.
“Having two feels a lot better than one,” Herrboldt said. “We’re going to get that time again. I’m personally not fine with two. We’re going to get that medley one at nationals. When we get three, I’ll be satisfied.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Lincoln boys relay team sets pair of state record in 2026
Continue reading...
