SIOUX FALLS – Milbank’s Jayden Johnson saved his best for last Thursday afternoon during the Class A State Track and Field Meet at Howard Wood Field.

The senior set a personal best and school record during his last competition in the pole vault, clearing a height of 14 feet, 4 inches.

“It feels great. I’ve been tied with the school record at 14 feet since Howard Wood, so it was huge,” Johnson said. “I’ve been waiting for that one for a while.”

Johnson pretty much cleared 14-6, but just clipped it on his way down on the other side of the bar.

“Oh yeah, I crushed that jump,” Johnson said. “I just need the standards moved forward.”

Despite the narrow miss, Johnson was clearly pleased with his result.

“Any time you PR or jump at all, it’s a good day,” he said. “I mean (Wednesday) I couldn’t get off the ground at practice.”

So how was he able to turn it around so quickly?

“I always say that my worst practices come before my best meets,” Johnson said, “and that’s always what it is.”

While Aberdeen Roncalli came up short in several events, it wasn’t for lack of effort. The Cavaliers led their heat halfway through the girls’ 800-meter relay, but could not sustain it.

“I thought we did amazing today,” said eighth-grader Addison Cassady. “I’m really proud of my team for that.”

Interestingly enough, Cassady runs the opening leg on the 800 relay and the anchor leg on the sprint medley relay.

Cassady explained the difference between starting and finishing.

“When you’re starting, you kind of have a little bit of pressure, because you have to start it out and not false start and all that jazz,” Cassady said. “A little bit of pressure, but once you get into it, it’s really just running.”

The finish is a bit of a different mindset.

“Finishing the race you have to get the baton, so that’s kind of a struggle, especially with all those people crowded there,” Cassady said. “And then when you finish, you just have to go all out for that team, just think about your team and finish hard.”

The Roncalli boys had a memorable season in the medley, setting a new school record in the event about two weeks ago. However, the competition was very strong at the state meet.

“It’s a lot more exhilarating,” said Roncalli senior Paul Gutenkauf of competing at the state meet. “You get some great competition there and then you get all the spectators too, and they’re kind of all helping to make the environment great. It can definitely work in your favor sometimes.”

Gutenkauf, who also competed in cross country for the Cavaliers, said he enjoys the structure of track and field better.

“It’s got more variety and stuff. It’s more controlled than running on a golf course,” Gutenkauf said. “It’s a flat surface, and I guess you know what you’re going to get coming into it.”

Roncalli coach Brady Lesnar was pleased with his relay teams throughout the day.

“We’re definitely meeting the best in the state for sure,” Lesnar said. “I thought our 4X8s ran really well today. Hazel (Kannegieter) had a really strong finish in her 800. That was a lot of fun to watch. I thought the boys competed well.”

Isaac Price had a personal record of 13-6 in the pole vault, despite not placing.

“I was excited for Isaac Price,” Lesnar said. “He PRd and got 13th overall in the pole vault. They start at a very high height.”

Lesnar also noted the strong performance of Ben Bradley in a relay, and Parker Grieben qualifying for the 110-meter high hurdles.

“Parker ran really well in his 110s,” Lesnar said. “He’s sitting sixth right now and runs on Saturday morning.”

The Cavaliers have four events when action resumes today.

“Hopefully (Friday), (Parker) can run well in the 300 hurdles, Joe (Perkins) can have a good two mile and 800, and our girls 4×4 finishes strong.”

To see complete Class A opening day results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/545344/results/all