March brought false promises of an early spring, April brought back winter storms, but the Aberdeen Central track and field programs are hoping May brings continued success.

The Golden Eagles kicked off their seasons with a series of indoor meets in March and are set to commence outdoor competition later this week, weather-permitting. However, the real focus for both squads is those late-May meets, when points count for real at the Eastern South Dakota Conference and the Class AA state meets.

“We have a theory around here that March doesn’t matter,” said Central girls’ coach Jim Appl. “May matters. It’s OK if things aren’t looking perfect in March. We have some kids who are upset because they’re not where they were when they left off at the state track meet. You don’t have to be good in March, because March doesn’t matter. We want you good in May.”

The Golden Eagles return a pair of state champions in Mya Arampatzis in the 100-meter hurdles and Taryn Hermansen in the shot put. The two, along with Gracie Rife, a 2024 state champ in the 100-meter dash, will anchor a solid corps of athletes hopeful for a solid spring.

“In the last two years, we have three state champs,” Appl said. “So we have that experience there, two seniors and a junior, which is always good. And we have a nice cast underneath them of people who have taken places in the state meet.”

That cast includes the likes of Espyn Kuhfeld, who was the runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles last season and a member of Central’s state-placing 4×1 and 4×200-meter relay squads.

Paige Ewalt is also back after finishing sixth in the discus, as is fifth-place pole vault finisher Jaidyn Forsyth.

Add in a healthy dose of young up-and-comers, and Appl said he likes the way his squad is shaping out.

“We have a lot of kids who are freshmen who are going to be able to jump in and help us along with our good corps of kids who are coming back,” he said. “So I’m real pleased with where we’re at right now.”

The key, as always, will be staying healthy and being able to mix up the team’s workouts, both indoor and out, has been helpful in that endeavor.

“We’ve been fortunate. We’ve been out on the track the majority of the time so far this year,” Appl said. “Even when it’s been cold we’ve been fortunate enough, a lot of days, to be out 30 minutes, maybe 40, then come back inside. … Coach (Dawn) Seiler and Coach (Greg) Murley have been able to get the dome for us a few other days, so we’ve been able to go over there and get some work in there. It’s kept us out of the halls and off the concrete of the halls. That’s keeping our legs a little more fresh.”

And even if March is somewhat irrelevant in the grand scheme, April’s build phase won’t be if the team loses its focus.

“As long as we keep on the right track, we have a chance to do some good things come May,” Appl said.

The same can be said for Central’s boys’ squad, which is enjoying a somewhat elevated season in terms of numbers, said boys’ coach Greg Murley.

The Golden Eagles return several state meet participants – and scorers – from a year ago. Most notable amongst that group is senior Kyson Fayant, who won the 300-meter hurdles and was eighth in the 110s last season. He is also the lone returner from Central’s third-place 4×400-meter relay squad.

And, Murley said, he’s on track for another solid season.

“He’s already surpassed his best time in the indoor meet last week,” Murley noted. “He would have actually broken our school record, but it doesn’t count since it was indoor.”

State place-winner Carter Lust also headlines a young, but experienced group of sprinters. Lust finished sixth in the 100-meter dash last season.

“We were young last year, and we return most of those guys, so we’re hoping our relays can do something,” Murley said.

Central’s distance squad is led by the likes of Esten Foss, Max Nelson, Carson Urlacher and Tate DeVries, and Murley has high expectations of that group, as well.

“Carson and Tate have run PRs indoors,” Murley said. “We would expect them to both be competitive at both the conference and state levels for placing.”

In the field events, Central returns Jack Bertsch and Felipe Gonzalez in the throwing events, along with Evan Sichmeller and Gabe Sumner in the pole vault. Tyler Bain headlines the high jump event.

“Kids are working really hard,” Murley said. “Weather, obviously, is always a little bit of a factor for us, but we’ve been able to do some things with the city and use the dome, which is a nice asset to use.”

As with the girls’ squad, the Golden Eagle boys’ program is mindful of staying focused and healthy during the early portions of the season.

“You can’t score points in the conference and state meet this time of year,” Murley said, “but you can lose them by getting hurt, so we’re pretty careful with our kids that way.”