SIOUX FALLS – After a full day of running and jumping events inside Howard Wood Stadium on Friday, a back-and-forth battle was still raging on.

Madison’s Henry Meyer outlasted Milbank’s Sam Rick to win a riveting competition in the Class A pole vault.

While Rick eventually ended up second, the sophomore definitely hit his stride setting three personal records on the way to clearing 14 feet, more than foot higher than his previous best.

Rick had a difficult time explaining his state meet surge.

“I don’t know, I kind of just felt it today,” Rick said. “The Webster coach was here today and giving me the big poles, and I was just kind of able to hit them.”

Rick said the biggest key to his vaulting at the state meet was the proper mindset.

“You gotta bring the energy,” Rick said. “You gotta bring the juice when you’re out there.”

Of course, having a competitor like Meyer only brought out the best in Rick as each one continue to clear a height and challenge the other.

“That motivated me to go out there and just keep working,” Rick said. “Keep getting out there, keep getting higher heights.”

Meyer actually skipped a height along the way, opting to jump back in at a higher height. That did not phase Rick at all.

“I still thought I could go out there and win. If I just keep getting heights and getting heights, I could get a chance,” Rick said. “I was given a chance, came up just a little short, but still got up there.”

Interestingly enough, both competitors kept on encouraging each other despite wanting the same goal.

“When you’re out there together you try to cheer everyone on, because it’s not the easiest thing to do,” Rick said. “You’ve got to give everyone confidence to go out there and do it.”

Lucas Johnson of Great Plains Lutheran couldn’t match his personal record, but still matched his fourth-place finish in the high jump from last year’s state meet.

“I placed fourth last year,” Johnson said. “It’s a little bit of a disappointment personally, because the other three guys that placed ahead of me PRd by 2-3 inches, and then I ended up jumping three inches below my PR.”

Johnson, who earlier this season jumped 6-feet, 7-inches, said it was just not his day.

“They were feeling it and I was just not all the way there,” Johnson said.

When asked if seeing his competitors jump well got inside his head, Johnson responded, “It does a little bit when you see them go over 6-6 on their first try. You’re like, oh shoot. Well, now I gotta do that or otherwise my place is gonna be all screwed up.”

The junior said he already has goals for next season.

“Next year hopefully over 6-7 and then hopefully first in state,” Johnson said. “Go and get it.”

Johnson wasn’t the only high jumper who failed to reach a personal record. Webster’s Sarah Zubke came close, but missed her PR by two inches

She said it wasn’t her first time on the big stage.

“I came here earlier this year for Howard Wood, so it definitely makes it easier,” Zubke said. “I’m not as nervous, but the heights keep going up, so that kind of makes me a little bit nervous.”

The sophomore took advice from her coach to try and keep things in perspective.

“My coach has really helped me,” Zubke said. “Instead of trying to think you’re not going to get it, you want to try to chase after the other people, rather than try to downgrade yourself.”

Another Northeast Conference athlete found herself in a battle down the stretch of the anchor leg of the sprint medley relay. Clark-Willow Lake’s Kamryn Nesheim finished strong to help the Cyclones nail down third place in the event.

Anna Vyn of Sioux Falls Christian set the pace for the final stages of the race.

“I knew she was going to go out fast. Eerybody went with her,” Nesheim said. “I really need to work on my first lap to get it going, so that was good that she went out fast and everybody else did too, because it will help me get my time down.”

Nesheim said the state meet atmosphere is unlike anything else she experiences.

“Here it’s just crazy There’s people yelling all the time,” the freshman said. “Even if you’re way in the back, they’re still yelling at you to go.”

Nesheim is also in some open events. She said there is a big difference between relays and individual events.

“In relays it’s different because you have more people depending on you to run your part,” Nesheim said. “If I run slow in an individual event, that’s like I’m just disappointing myself, but in relays if you run slow, you’re disappointing more than just yourself.”

Aberdeen Roncalli had a bit of a lighter day on Thursday.

“We did not have any personal best performances today,” said Roncalli boys’ coach Mark Stone. “The state track meet brings out the best. We are proud of our kids, but we just don’t have much to show for it. Looking forward to (Friday).”

To see complete first-day results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/601956/results