IPSWICH – Some of the state’s premier track and field athletes took turns rewriting the record book at the Lake Region Conference meet on Tuesday.
Ipswich swept both team titles, winning the boys’ championship over North Central by a mere half point.
Whether it was a gentle nudge by the strong wind or finding another gear when it mattered most, both boys and girls took down LRC marks and set some new statewide standards.
Northwestern’s Ty Boekelheide set a new personal, LRC, and Class B leading mark in winning the triple jump, soaring 45-1 3/4.
“I knew I’d have a good chance when I jumped,” Boekelheide said. “With the wind I knew it’d be a great day to break the record.”
While the tailwind helped, it also provided a challenge.
“I’d say with the wind it’s harder to get on the board and stay in control,” Boekelheide said.
The junior broke the record of Aberdeen Christian’s Dylan Hofer, who ended up breaking the conference long jump mark at 22-9.
“I was warming up for triple jump and I saw him,” Boekelheide said, “and I was like he just kept going and going and going. I was like woah. So good for him, that was an amazing jump.”
The two are not only worthy opponents of each other, but also friends.
“We’re pretty good friends. We talk before we jump,” Boekelheide said. “It’s fun to talk to him. I like him.”
Hofer has mutual admiration for Boekelheide and didn’t mind seeing his record go to him.
“I’m fine with it. I know Ty. He’s a good guy,” Hofer said. “I’m just happy I get the long jump one.”
Hofer was expecting to set a personal record in the long jump, but not by 2 and 1/2 feet.
“My first jump was 21-9. I bit surprised with that and then my second one was 22-9,” Hofer said. “It was definitely surprising.”
Hofer, who is the defending state champion in the triple jump, would like to defend his title and be near the top of the long jump at this year’s state meet.
“Hopefully just for this year I can jump well at state,” the junior said, “because I think if I jump around that at state, I should be top three for long jump.”
Warner’s McKenna Leidholt set a personal record in winning the long jump and then outdueled Shawna Henderson and Marley Guthmiller of Ipswich at the finish to win the 400-meter dash.
“You have to stay mental that entire time. As soon as you get to this last stretch, it’s all in your head,” Leidholt said. “You feel tight. You feel tired, but you just have to tell yourself you’re almost there, just finish.”
When asked which was tougher, running down the backstretch right into a strong wind, or finding the energy to finish the race, the senior paused for a moment.
“I’ll honestly say this end stretch here,” Leidholt said. “I mean you used up most of your energy going into that wind and trying not to push you behind, but right at the end when you have two other girls fighting for that first place spot, you just have exert that energy and go get it.”
Faulkton’s Spencer Melius won three open events on the day and set two meet records and established a new Class B leading time in the process.
Melius won both the 110-meter high hurdles (meet record) and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, as well as the javelin (meet record). His time of :15.10 in the 110s is tops in the class this season.
“I like the 110s a lot better,” Melius said of his preference in hurdles events. “They 300s are pretty brutal, especially at the end. The wind today too is horrible.”
The senior is in the middle of a busy spring campaign. He is also a key member of the Faulkton golf team.
“It’s pretty busy. I’ve got golf some days, track most days, it’s just been busy,” Melius said. “Managing my time and school work, that’s a big challenge.”
Melius is gearing up for a big finish to his prep career. He would like to compete in both the state track and field meet and the state golf tournament which are back-to-back with one day in between, and will then play in the high school all-star football game.
There were also two new LRC record heights established in the pole vault. Warner’s Chays Mansfield cleared 12-10 in the boys’ division, and Ipswich’s Jalyssa Hutson cleared 11-6 in the girls’ division. She also finished second in the high jump and javelin.
Aberdeen Christian’s Shawnteah LaCroix set a new conference record in the triple jump at 36-2 1/2, which ranks third in the state.
Other double open event winners included Ipswich’s Kyle Hettich who won the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and ran on two winning relays, Faulkton’s Korbin Stark who won the 1,600 and 3,200, and Ipswich’s Aubree DeRaad who won both hurdles races and ran on a winning relay, and Isabella Galbraith who won the 800 and 3,200.
Madisyn Gellhaus had a big meet in her final action on her home track. She won the 1,600-meter run and was second in the 800 and the 3,200.
She said the races can vary depending on the day.
“There’s some days where you’re feeling really speedy and the 800 goes by fast,” Gellhaus said, “and there’s also some days where the two-mile is going to feel really easy and that 800 is going to suck.”
Gellhaus, who will be competing for Northern State next season, said she is going to miss her Tiger teammates and coaches.
“What crosses through my mind is leaving all the little girls, not going to have (Todd) Thorson or Macy (Heinz) as my coach anymore and the bond that we’ve developed just in the last two years with those seventh-grade girls,” Gellhaus said. “It’s really tight. I’m really going to miss them. I already told them I’m going to be at their first race next year. I’m not missing it for the world.”
In addition to Hofer and LaCroix, Christian had other athletes rise to the challenge with some members out with injuries, according to Knights coach Sam Bjorkman.
“I loved watching kids step up, jumping into the high jump (Charlie) Eichler and getting fifth, jumping into the mile (Andrew) Schwab and chasing kids down and so on,” Bjorkman said. “Max Dinger was a big contributor that people may have missed leading off the 4X1 and a key player in the 4X2.”
To see complete meet results, click on the following link:
