SIOUX FALLS – As expected it was a big day for the Aberdeen Central hurdlers, but the Golden Eagles even exceeded those expectations during the final day of the State Track and Field Meet on Saturday at Howard Wood Field.

Top-seeds Mya Arampatzis and Kyson Fayant each captured Class AA state championships, and Espynn Kuhfeld finished second in another hurdle race.

Arampatzis got things started by winning the 100-meter hurdles race by executing her usual stellar start out of the blocks.

“Your start is very important,” Arampatzis said. “I work hard at practice, really get those blocks down, because when you’re first to that first hurdle it sets up your whole race.”

Arampatzis was in a tight battle with Kenya Harris of Sioux Falls Lincoln before pulling away at the finish.

“I think I knew I had it when she bumped one and I kind of heard it,” Arampatzis said. “I was like just keep going, you never know how far behind she is and if she can get you back.”

Arampatzis, who set the school record in the event during the Howard Wood Dakota Relays earlier this spring, did not get the time she was looking for, but did get a coveted state title.

“I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get the time I wanted,” Arampatzis said, “but Howard Wood couldn’t have gone better for me, and I’m so very grateful for how I ran today.”

The sophomore was sixth last year and had a target on her back coming into this year’s meet with the top time.

“I definitely felt the pressure, but you just gotta run your own race,” Arampatzis said. “You can’t focus on who’s around you. You just have to focus on your hurdles, your lane, you just have to believe in yourself.”

Fayant needed a late surge to win the state championship in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He was able to find another gear to beat the field to the finish line.

“They kind of caught me on the curve,” Fayant said, “but it was good.”

Fayant also qualified for the finals in the 110-meter high hurdles, and finished eighth in that event.

“I’m not flexible,” Fayant said of the differences between the two hurdles races. “I’m not flexible enough to go over those things perfectly.”

In fact, the junior said his form isn’t exactly ideal in the 300 hurdles, either.

“Honestly, I don’t even hurdle them,” Fayant said. “It’s kind of more like a jump.”

Kuhfeld came up big in the 300 hurdles, overcoming a slow start to finish runner-up after being seeded fifth heading into the meet.

“My teammates help me a lot. Like Mya, she pushed me and pushed me, and I’d like to thank … especially (Coach Jim) Appl, because he believed in me through the whole thing. I wouldn’t be able to do it without him.”

Kuhfeld clipped the last hurdle and ended up falling onto the track right at the finish line.

“I really wanted it,” Kuhfeld said. “I was freaking out before the race but my teammates assured me everything was going to be fine, and being a freshman in an open race is a big thing to start with, so I gave it all I’ve got for my last race of the season.”

Kuhfeld wasn’t even sure the 300 hurdles was the race for her, but a previous coach convinced her to give it a try.

“My middle school coach Miss (Tevan) Newman said I’d be really good at the 300s, and I thought she was crazy,” Kuhfeld said, “but I’ve really learned to love the race. My long legs just really give me a kick.”

Central has been strong in the hurdles all season and capped it off with a big effort on the final day of the season.

“The hurdlers had a pretty good day. Our staff does a good job,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley. “They care about the kids and they care about coaching all the kids every day. We’re pretty lucky to have the people that we have working on the track staff.”

The Central boys finished off the meet with a strong effort in the final event of the day, taking third place in the 1,600-meter relay. That team was comprised of Eli Biegler, Fayant, Brendan Phillips, and Colby Dauwen.

Phillips ran the third leg and helped to put the Golden Eagles in contention down the stretch.

“With it being the last one, I wanted to give everything I’ve got,” said Phillips, who will be attending Northern State to play basketball next season. “I wanted to push through and get out of that box, and put our team in a good spot.”

He said the squad has been running together for more than two years.

“I’ve done this with these guys for two years plus. …. We always do it for each other,” Phillips said. “That’s the best part about this team.”

Phillips said he will recall all the memories made with teammates more so than the competition looking back on his time at Central.

“All those sporting events are good and stuff, but the memories you make with your teammates, the bus trips, the hotel rooms, that’s what you’re going to remember,” Phillips said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group to do it with.”

The Central boys also received points from Joran Foss in the shot put, Carter Lust in the 200, and Jack Podoll in the hurdles.

“It was a good track meet,” Murley said. “We have some youth on our team. We have some seniors that we’re certainly going to miss, but overall it was good track meet.”

Gracie Rife bounced back from a rough start to the meet with a strong finish. After having a false start in the 100-meter dash prelims, the junior ran two strong legs on relays and also finished fifth in the 200.

“It just all went by so fast, honestly. Going from the false start in my prelims, I was like arrghh, but I’m just thankful I came back, because this is all I wanted to do,” Rife said. “I know that 100 is my race, which is really unfortunate because that’s the true thing I wanted to be good at, but getting fifth in the 200 is two places better than I got last year. Our relays are improving. I can’t be mad about anything.

With the majority of the Golden Eagles coming back next season, Rife is already thinking about the future.

“I’m so excited for next year,” Rife said. “That’s all I can say. Next year is going to be a great year for everybody.”

Naturally, Appl was pleased with how his athletes performed at the state meet.

“For the girls team we really had a good, solid meet. We had one hiccup really all weekend, but other than that we exceeded our expectations or matched our expectations that we had going in,” Appl said. “The kids just competed really well. I’m just so pleased with what we accomplished wrapping up the end of the year, starting at the conference meet and working our way through this. It was absolutely fun.”

He noted that Catelynn Weig also grabbed a place in the hurdles in addition to the accomplishment of the other hurdlers.

“I’m just as proud of Catelynn Weig as anyone,” Appl said.

Like the rest of the Golden Eagles, Appl is also excited about what the future holds for the team.

“We had two seniors, but all of our place winners were younger kids, so we have everyone coming back,” Appl said. “Next year we need to set our sights a little higher and see if we can get on one of the six podiums. We have to switch our mindset to that for next year.”

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

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/601974/results