SIOUX FALLS – It was a record-setting day for the Aberdeen Central track and field program during the opening day of the Howard Wood Dakota Relays on Friday. The Golden Eagles broke two school records on the same day for the first time since 2013.
Mya Arampatzis established a new record in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of :14.70 seconds, breaking the previous record of Andrea Sjomeling set 19 years ago. Hermansen broke her own school record she set earlier this season with a throw of 46-feet 8-inches.
Central girls’ coach Jim Appl said Arampatzis didn’t have her best start in the prelims, but was back to her usual self in the semfinals.
“In the semis, her start was just electric,” Appl said.
She is tied for the fastest time in the field heading into today’s finals.
“We finally did speed work for the hurdles for the first time this week,” Appl said. “We’ve done nothing but endurance.”
Hermansen got off to a rough start in the shot put.
“It was little nerve wrecking,” Appl said. “Her first two throws she scratched on.”
She then got into the finals with a throw of 43 feet, which put her in first place. Her school-record throw took place on her final attempt.
“Everyone started clapping and she went from 43-8 to 46-8,” Appl said, breaking her previous best mark by a foot.
Central athletes competed at both Howard Wood and at the O’Gorman Invitational.
“There were a lot of PRs at both O’Gorman and Howard Wood,” Appl said. “The improvement’s there and that’s the big thing. The improvement is really starting to show up all around and you can see the kids getting excited with it.”
The Central boys also had a big day. Brendan Phillips won the high jump and also beat the field in the 400-meter dash at O’Gorman.
“Brendan Phillips obviously getting 6-foot was a good deal,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley, “pretty clean in winning the high jump.”
Central’s Jack Bertsch won the discus, with teammate Felipe Gonzalez finishing third. Evan Hauer was third in the shot put.
“The Hermansens had a good day today, so that’s good,” Murley said of throw coaches Charles and Jill Hermansen.
“They work really hard. … We have a good problem,” Murley said. “We have 30 people who want to throw for them. They coach every kid and every kid gets attention every day.”
Evan Sichmeller finished second in the pole vault at O’Gorman.
The Golden Eagles also won the 1,600-meter relay at O’Gorman. That team consisted of Maddox Dinger, Tyler Bain, Jack Podoll, and Bryson Burgard.
“Maddox and Bryson ran the 4×8 at Howard Wood and then went back to O’Gorman to run the mile relay,” Murley said.
Murley also pointed out the performance of Carson Urlacher in the 3,200-meter run.
“Carson Urlacher had a really good day at Howard Wood,” Murley said. “He PRd by 10 seconds in the two mile. South Dakota distance running is just really good right now.”
When action resumes today, Central will have Kyson Fayant competing in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He has the second fastest time in the state in that race.
“We get up right in the morning with an event that we think we’re pretty strong in,” Murley said.
The Golden Eagles will also be competing in the 1,600-meter relay, also a strength of the team.
“That will be a really smoking fast deal. … I think we’ll run a good time if it’s a nice day,” Murley said.
Ipswich’s Jalyssa Hutson won the pole vault competition at Howard Wood.
To see complete Howard Wood results, click on the following link:
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/562931/results
To see complete O’Gorman Invitational results, click on the following link:
