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Moving up the ladder in the Eastern South Dakota Conference and Class AA ranks won't be easy for the Watertown and Aberdeen Central high school track and field teams this spring, but that doesn't mean the Arrows and Golden Eagles aren't going to try.
Watertown's girls finished fourth in the conference and ninth in the state meet behind Brandon Valley, which cruised to titles in both meets. Aberdeen Central's girls took third in the ESD and tied for seventh in the state.
Aberdeen Central's boys were fourth and Watertown's boys eighth behind champion Harrisburg in the ESD meet. Watertown finished 11th and Aberdeen Central 13th behind champion Sioux Falls Lincoln at state.
Both schools are set to close out their preseason indoor meets this week — Watertown is at the Thundering Herd Classic in Fargo (N.D.) on Friday and a handful of Aberdeen Central athletes were slated to compete Thursday in the Northern State Open — before heading outdoors next week, weather permitting.
"It'll be interesting to see with the numbers we have to see if we can fill some holes we've had in the past," Watertown coach Chad Rohde said. "It's just getting so hard to compete with the Metro schools. The numbers they have are just unbelievable."
Aberdeen Central is scheduled to compete Tuesday in the Bob Judson Invite at Pierre and also in the Huron Invite on Friday, April 11 along with Watertown.
Rohde and his staff is working with a group of more than 140 boys and girls this spring, an increase from recent seasons that could possibly be attributed to the new track facility at Allen Mitchell Field.
The Arrows, however, are very young and return only a handful of state placewinners from last spring. That group includes sophomore Dane Stark (eighth in the boys' 3,200-meter run), junior Malia Kranz (girls' discus champion and fourth-place in shot put), eighth-grader Grace McElroy (sixth in 3,200 run), sophomore Reese Munger (tied for fifth in the high jump) and junior Makenna Blank (fifth in long jump).
2024 STATE TRACK MEET: Watertown's Raderschadt and Kranz, Aberdeen Central's Rife among individual-event winners
Additional help will come from returning ESD placewinners in junior Jerome Zebroski (300 hurdles) and seniors Shey Coltribn, Austin Redfield and sophomore Lincoln Schutt (400 relay) on the boys' squad and sophomore Jordan Remmers (javelin), sophomore Mayla McGhee (high jump), senior Gracey Corey (discus), senior Ericka Woolley (pole vault) and junior Anna Hirtz and sophomores Kate McElroy, Grace List and Alayna Smith (relays).
"We have a lot of young kids with some talent and they'll have some bumps and bruises along the way," Rohde said. "We're excited to see what happens. Hopefully we just get some good weather and be allowed to compete."
The chance to compete includes the opportunity to perform at home, something the Watertown track teams haven't done since hosting the 59th Watoma Relays on April 22, 2022. The Arrows' only scheduled home meet is the 60th Watoma Relays on Friday, April 25. The meet has been cancelled because of the weather the past two springs.
Rohde feels Harrisburg's boys and Brandon Valley's girls are not only the teams to beat in the ESD but also likely in Class AA.
"With the increased numbers, some pretty good quality at the top and the young kids filling in, I think we can continue to do what we can," he said. "The big thing we look at right away is trying to get as many kids qualified for the state meet as we can."
Aberdeen Central head coaches Greg Murley (boys) and Jim Appl (girls) are working with more than 120 athletes. The group includes returning state place winners in junior Felipe Gonzalez (fifth in shot put) and seniors Eli Biegler, Brendan Phillips and Colby Dauwen and junior Kyson Fayant (relays) for the boys.
Junior Gracie Rife, who won the Class AA girls' 100-meter dash and also placed eighth in the 200, is back to lead Aberdeen Central's girls along with fellow state placers in sophomore Mya Arampatzis (ffith in 100 hurdles, junior Taryn Hermansen (second in shot put) and Rife, junior Lucy Fritz and freshman Keyana Stillman (relays).
Junior Tyler Bain (high jump champ), seniors Evan Foss and Evan Hauer (shot put), junior Jack Bertsch (discus) and junior Karson Borge (relays) placed in the ESD meet and will provide help with the Golden Eagle boys. Junior Juna Ramey (3,200 run) and sophomore McKenzie Jorgensen (relays) are other ESD placers back for Aberdeen Central's girls.
Watertown is also scheduled to compete April 17 in the Corn Palace Relays at Mitchell, May 9 in the Al Sahli Invite at Aberdeen and May 22 in the Last Chance Meet at Huron along with the Watoma Relays at home on April 25.
Aberdeen Central is also slated to participate in April 17 in the Corn Palace Relays, April 25 in the Watoma Relays, April 29 in the Rob Luecke Invite at Groton, May 2 in the O'Gorman Invite at Sioux Falls, May 6 in the Eureka Lions Meet and May 13 in the Capital City Qualifier at Pierre along with the Al Sahli Invite at home on May 9.
2024 ESD TRACK MEET: Brandon Valley's girls and Harrisburg's boys capture team championships in conference meet
Both schools will compete in the Howard Wood Dakota Relays May 2-3 at Sioux Falls, ESD meet May 17 at Harrisburg and the state meet May 29-31 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
Results from most of the high school track meets held in South Dakota this spring can be found by visiting www.athletic.net.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Season preview for Watertown and Aberdeen Central's track & field squads
Continue reading...
Watertown's girls finished fourth in the conference and ninth in the state meet behind Brandon Valley, which cruised to titles in both meets. Aberdeen Central's girls took third in the ESD and tied for seventh in the state.
Aberdeen Central's boys were fourth and Watertown's boys eighth behind champion Harrisburg in the ESD meet. Watertown finished 11th and Aberdeen Central 13th behind champion Sioux Falls Lincoln at state.
Both schools are set to close out their preseason indoor meets this week — Watertown is at the Thundering Herd Classic in Fargo (N.D.) on Friday and a handful of Aberdeen Central athletes were slated to compete Thursday in the Northern State Open — before heading outdoors next week, weather permitting.
"It'll be interesting to see with the numbers we have to see if we can fill some holes we've had in the past," Watertown coach Chad Rohde said. "It's just getting so hard to compete with the Metro schools. The numbers they have are just unbelievable."
Aberdeen Central is scheduled to compete Tuesday in the Bob Judson Invite at Pierre and also in the Huron Invite on Friday, April 11 along with Watertown.
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Taking a look at Watertown
Rohde and his staff is working with a group of more than 140 boys and girls this spring, an increase from recent seasons that could possibly be attributed to the new track facility at Allen Mitchell Field.
The Arrows, however, are very young and return only a handful of state placewinners from last spring. That group includes sophomore Dane Stark (eighth in the boys' 3,200-meter run), junior Malia Kranz (girls' discus champion and fourth-place in shot put), eighth-grader Grace McElroy (sixth in 3,200 run), sophomore Reese Munger (tied for fifth in the high jump) and junior Makenna Blank (fifth in long jump).
2024 STATE TRACK MEET: Watertown's Raderschadt and Kranz, Aberdeen Central's Rife among individual-event winners
Additional help will come from returning ESD placewinners in junior Jerome Zebroski (300 hurdles) and seniors Shey Coltribn, Austin Redfield and sophomore Lincoln Schutt (400 relay) on the boys' squad and sophomore Jordan Remmers (javelin), sophomore Mayla McGhee (high jump), senior Gracey Corey (discus), senior Ericka Woolley (pole vault) and junior Anna Hirtz and sophomores Kate McElroy, Grace List and Alayna Smith (relays).
"We have a lot of young kids with some talent and they'll have some bumps and bruises along the way," Rohde said. "We're excited to see what happens. Hopefully we just get some good weather and be allowed to compete."
You must be registered for see images attach
The chance to compete includes the opportunity to perform at home, something the Watertown track teams haven't done since hosting the 59th Watoma Relays on April 22, 2022. The Arrows' only scheduled home meet is the 60th Watoma Relays on Friday, April 25. The meet has been cancelled because of the weather the past two springs.
Rohde feels Harrisburg's boys and Brandon Valley's girls are not only the teams to beat in the ESD but also likely in Class AA.
"With the increased numbers, some pretty good quality at the top and the young kids filling in, I think we can continue to do what we can," he said. "The big thing we look at right away is trying to get as many kids qualified for the state meet as we can."
You must be registered for see images attach
Taking a look at Aberdeen Central
Aberdeen Central head coaches Greg Murley (boys) and Jim Appl (girls) are working with more than 120 athletes. The group includes returning state place winners in junior Felipe Gonzalez (fifth in shot put) and seniors Eli Biegler, Brendan Phillips and Colby Dauwen and junior Kyson Fayant (relays) for the boys.
Junior Gracie Rife, who won the Class AA girls' 100-meter dash and also placed eighth in the 200, is back to lead Aberdeen Central's girls along with fellow state placers in sophomore Mya Arampatzis (ffith in 100 hurdles, junior Taryn Hermansen (second in shot put) and Rife, junior Lucy Fritz and freshman Keyana Stillman (relays).
Junior Tyler Bain (high jump champ), seniors Evan Foss and Evan Hauer (shot put), junior Jack Bertsch (discus) and junior Karson Borge (relays) placed in the ESD meet and will provide help with the Golden Eagle boys. Junior Juna Ramey (3,200 run) and sophomore McKenzie Jorgensen (relays) are other ESD placers back for Aberdeen Central's girls.
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Important dates to remember
Watertown is also scheduled to compete April 17 in the Corn Palace Relays at Mitchell, May 9 in the Al Sahli Invite at Aberdeen and May 22 in the Last Chance Meet at Huron along with the Watoma Relays at home on April 25.
Aberdeen Central is also slated to participate in April 17 in the Corn Palace Relays, April 25 in the Watoma Relays, April 29 in the Rob Luecke Invite at Groton, May 2 in the O'Gorman Invite at Sioux Falls, May 6 in the Eureka Lions Meet and May 13 in the Capital City Qualifier at Pierre along with the Al Sahli Invite at home on May 9.
2024 ESD TRACK MEET: Brandon Valley's girls and Harrisburg's boys capture team championships in conference meet
Both schools will compete in the Howard Wood Dakota Relays May 2-3 at Sioux Falls, ESD meet May 17 at Harrisburg and the state meet May 29-31 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
Results from most of the high school track meets held in South Dakota this spring can be found by visiting www.athletic.net.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Season preview for Watertown and Aberdeen Central's track & field squads
Continue reading...
