A group of area defending state champions highlights a list of top returning Class A and Class B track and field athletes this spring.

That includes two individuals who won multiple state titles last spring.

Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide is the defending state champ in the Class B 800-meter run, the 1,600-meter run, and the 3,200-meter run. Faulkton’s Spencer Melius is the reigning champion in the Class B 110-meter high hurdles, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and the javelin.

Jalyssa Hutson of Ipswich is the two-time defending state B champ in the pole vault, while Ethan Schwenn of Wilmot is the defending B champion in the 400-meter dash. Dylan Hofer of Aberdeen Christian is the defending B champ in the triple jump.

There is also large group of area returning athletes who finished runner-up in events at last year’s state meet.

That list includes Milbank’s Sam Rick who was second in the Class A triple jump and pole vault, Clark-Willow Lake’s Jakob Steen in the Class A javelin, Northwestern’s Ty Boekelheide in the Class B triple jump, Brody Davis of Ipswich in the Class B pole vault, Hoven’s Dannika Kaup in the Class B 300 hurdles, and Marley Guthmiller of Ipswich in the Class B pole vault.

Those who finished third at the state meet and are back again this spring include Kyle Hettich of Ipswich in the Class B 100-meter dash, Miller’s Isaak Hunter in the Class A 300 hurdles, Madisyn Gellhaus of Ipswich in the Class B 3,200, and Warner’s Courtney Leidholt in the Class B pole vault.

Returning this season after fourth-place finishes last year are Hettich in the 400, Lucas Johnson of Great Plains Lutheran in the Class A high jump, Kendal Uttecht of Wolsey-Wessington in the Class B 800, Autumn Fallis of Highmore-Harrold in the Class B 1,600, and North Central’s Lindsey Geier in the Class B triple jump and Peyton Schnabel in the B pole vault.

Returning fifth-place finishers include Breanna Joachim of Herreid-Selby Area in the Class B 100, and Deuel’s Hannah Cutshaw in the Class A pole vault.

A large group of athletes is back after finishing sixth a year ago. That list includes Hitchcock-Tulare’s Logan LaBrie in the Class B 100 and 200, Warner’s Chays Mansfield in the Class B pole vault, Deuel’s Gavin Kloos in the Class A 200, Gettysburg’s Emma Schlachter in the Class B 800, Warner’s Avery Bruns in the Class B pole vault, Kamryn Nesheim of Clark-Willow Lake in the Class A 1,600, and Milbank’s Jacy Dexter in the Class A pole vault.

Those returning after seventh-place finishes last season are Michael Severson of Clark-Willow Lake in the Class A shot put, Sophie Knittel of Ipswich in the Class B 100, Gellhaus in the 1,600, Fallis in the 3,200, Warner’s Kaydee Mackner in the Class B long jump, North Central’s Carleigh Dosch in the Class B pole vault, Cadence Bochek of Clark-Willow Lake in the Class A 400, Groton’s McKenna Tietz in the Class A 300 hurdles, and Webster’s Sarah Zuehlke in the Class A high jump.

Rounding out last year’s returning podium finishers who took eighth place are Warner’s Easton Bruns in the Class B pole vault, Jeron McCreary of Webster in the Class A pole vault, Knittel in the 200, Guthmiller in the 300 hurdles, Rebecca Huizenga of Hitchcock-Tulare in the Class B shot put, and Ipswich’s Tristan Geditz in the Class B discus.

Note: previews on Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Roncalli, and Aberdeen Christian were already published.