SIOUX FALLS – Oliver Fieber of Deuel ran his way to a pair of individual state championships on Saturday, but it was his work in a relay race that might have been his most impressive state title during the State Track and Field Meet at Howard Wood Field.

The junior, who missed last year’s state meet after recovering from a torn miniscus, helped the Cardinals win the Class A 400-meter relay in dramatic fashion, chasing down a strong field to win at the finish.

“It’s a great feeling. My strong part is the first 80 meters,” Fieber said. “That’s kind of where I see me passing everyone.”

While Fieber understands he has a special gift of speed, he also said there is a mental component to his racing.

“You’ve got to want it more than everyone,” Fieber said.

His teammates understand that if they get the baton to their anchor leg, he has a real chance to come across the finish line first.

“I was a little worried, but I had my money on him,” said Gabe Sather, who ran the opening leg on the relay squad.

The senior said getting off to a good start is a big key in a relay race.

“No margin for error. It’s very important to get off strong,” Sather said. “You have to try to catch the guy in front of you.”

There was no catching Fieber in his 100-meter and 200-meter dash victories. He attempts to stay low early in the race before standing up.

Calling it a drive phase, Fieber tries to make sure he doesn’t get upright too quickly.

“Your first 30 meters, 30-60, and then you want to start getting up tall,” Fieber said. “If you have a good drive phase it can make you have a good race.”

Deuel wasn’t the only Northeast Conference school to have a solid relay performance on the day.

The Groton girls battled Class A power Sioux Falls Christian to the finish before taking second place in the 1,600-meter relay.

“Going in second in the 4X4 and knowing that we had a chance,” said Groton team member McKenna Tietz, “we were a second and half away from Sioux Falls Christian in prelims.”

The Tigers squad, which also included Laila Roberts, Taryn Traphagen, and Kella Tracy, gave the Chargers a run, but eventually came up just short.

Tietz also placed in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in a loaded field.

“They’re fast girls,” Tietz said. “When they’re running it’s like this one placed last year, this one two-time champ, this one …”

Tietz had her own impressive resume, though.

“I went in originally 10th, eighth in prelims and then finished seventh,” she said. “I PRd and (Friday) I broke the school record for those.”

Aberdeen Roncalli’s Gabby Thomas, who finished fifth in the triple jump on Friday, produced more memories on the way to a seventh-place finish in the long jump on Saturday. She entered the competition seeded 20th.

“My teammates are really supportive,” Thomas said. “I was the only one competing today, they showed up and that kind of helped push me to keep going.”

The freshman said she uses track and field to help her prepare for her favorite sport of basketball.

“My coaches definitely know that basketball’s my favorite,” Thomas said, “and so they keep comparing things in long and triple to basketball, and it makes me keep wanting to push harder and make myself better.”

Roncalli coach Mark Stone was proud of the effort of Thomas, who exceeded her seeing in both jumping events.

“Again like (Friday), happy for Gabby. In both jumps she came in entered outside of the top eight, yet placed in both,” Stone said. “Proud of her and we’re proud of our athletes this season. Lots to be grateful for and there’s nothing like the state track meet.”

Miller’s Isaak Hunter placed in the top four of both of his hurdles races. He compared the differences between the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

“The 110s you just got to be on a rhythm. If you’re not on rhythm, it’s not going to be a good race,” Hunter said. “Being here, the best of the best, you just have to be on rhythm. You just have to have it on point. The 300s you can get out super fast and you can charge each hurdle.”

The junior broke his personal records in both events on the weekend.

He said he runs the hurdles because his late grandfather, Gerry, used to run them.

“He was a hurdler and it just kind of stayed in the family. … Today it’s been 2 or 3 years since he passed away,” Hunter said, “and I just did it for him.”

Clark-Willow Lake junior Cadence Bochek earned a spot on the podium after making the finals of the 400-meter dash. She ended up running in an inside lane, which made the race more challenging.

When asked if she could tell where she was at in comparison to the rest of the field, Bochek responded, “No, I couldn’t until I took the last turn after the 200. I couldn’t really tell what place I was in or anything. I like the inside lanes way better, so I can chase and see where I’m at.”

She said just making it to a final in an open event was a huge accomplishment.

“It was so big for me,” Bochek said. “It’s always been a goal to make it to state in an open event and to make it to finals is so cool.”

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

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