MOBRIDGE – The goal was plain and simple during the Last Chance track and field meet on Friday: take advantage of one final attempt to gain entry into next week’s state meet.

Among those who took advantage of one last try was Aberdeen Roncalli’s Joe Perkins, who did crack the top 24 after a personal best time in the 800-meter run.

“It’s been a long week, but it’s been a good week,” said Roncalli coach Brady Lesnar. “Even today, it didn’t quite go the way were we hoping. We were hoping to get a few more in, but you ran that risk when you run 3 to 4 times in a week.”

Perkins showed no ill affect from competing in multiple events throughout the week clocking a time of 2:00.55 in winning the 800.

“Joe Perkins pulled it off and showed that you can still compete at a high level after running four out of five days at a meet,” Lesnar said.

Lesnar was impressed that Perkins still had plenty of energy left after a demanding week.

“It’s good to see that,” Lesnar said of his time. “It proves what he is a capable of doing.”

Interestingly enough, Perkins initially wasn’t planning on going to Mobridge. He was still among the top 24 before getting bumped after Thursday’s action.

“He fell out (Thursday) night, so we asked him if he wanted to run it,” Lesnar said, “and he was a little concerned about some school stuff. He wanted to be there for the last day of school.”

So Lesnar looked at the schedule, did the math and figured out Perkins could do both, attend school and make it to Mobridge in just enough time to run.

“He got there about an hour before his race and ran it,” Lesnar said.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, the other individuals who competed on Friday were not able to punch their tickets to state.

“It gave some other kids some opportunities,” Lesnar said of attending the meet. “It just didn’t happen, but I think they’re happy that they at least gave it an effort. We didn’t leave anything behind, at least.”

Roncalli seventh-grader Kadince Glynn had nice end to the regular season, winning the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

“She just keeps improving,” Lesnar said. “You just never know how (Saturday) is going to shake out.”

Lesnar said there is still a chance that people just outside the top 24 could qualify for state if people in front of them have qualified in more than four events and decide to pull out of one of them to open a spot.

Mobridge-Pollock’s Andrew Fulkerson won the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and ran on the winning 400-meter relay.

Breanna Jochim of Herreid-Selby Area won the 100-meter dash, long jump, and was a member of the first place 800-meter relay squad. Teammate Brooklyn Helm was second in the 100 and ran on the 800-meter relay team. Both were also members of the second place 400-meter relay squad.

Ryli Thompson of Mobridge-Pollock won the 200-meter dash and ran on the winning sprint medley relay squad.

To see complete meet results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/526414/results/all