SIOUX FALLS – A pair of Lake Region Conference relay teams turned in remarkable come-from-behind victories to capture state championships on the opening day of the Class B State and Track and Field Meet Thursday at Howard Wood Field.
Ipswich won the 3,200-meter relay and Northwestern won the sprint medley relay in nearly identical fashion as both used strong anchor legs to surge into the lead.
Marley Guthmiller propelled Ipswich into the lead on the final lap of the 3,200 relay. The senior had a big gap to make up on Deubrook’s Nora Olsen.
“It was harder, Deubrook has gotten a lot better,” Guthmiller said. “They’re very athletic so I was getting a bit worried, but I tried to stay calm and just let myself go at my own pace and not try to catch her as fast as I could.”
Guthmiller is still attempting to figure out her pace in the event.
“This is my first year running the 800, so I really don’t know how to run it yet,” Guthmiller said. “So, while I was running, I was telling myself ‘I need to be smooth’ because last time I did this, I started at a 64 split and I just died in the last 100. So, this time I thought if I run a 70 my first one and then be smart in the last 150, I’ll be fine because I have a quick get-up towards the end. Knowing that I have good foot speed at the end of races kept me going.”
Guthmiller also talked about her motivation to get the win.
“My teammates and knowing this is my last time running the 4X8,” Guthmiller said. “They all wanted it just as badly, if not more than I did. It just really made me want to try for them.”
The Tigers clocked a time of 9:46.88. Other team members included Kalynn Oban, Isabella Galbraith, and Madisyn Gellhaus.
Northwestern came out on top after a late push from senior Ella Boekelheide to win a state title in the medley.
Boekelheide got the baton on the final leg facing a sizeable deficit and the goal to overtake Colman-Egan’s Brynlee Landis.
Northwestern clocked in at 4:13.02 and Colman-Egan finished runner-up with a time of 4:15.92.
“I was excited, but I knew I couldn’t let that excitement overtake and I had to be patient,” Boekelheide said. “I wanted to make up the gap gradually. The goal was to pass on the home stretch, so I was trying to be patient and just catch up slowly, but surely.”
That plan came to fruition as Boekelheide passed Landis on the final straightaway and managed to close the deal.
Despite facing a large gap, Boekelheide didn’t have any doubts she could make up the distance.
“You have to think that (you can win), you can’t have any doubt,” Boekelheide said. “If you want to do it you need to think you can do it. Everything in my mind and body told me I could do it, so I just had to go out there and prove it.”
Other team members were Brenna Halvorson, Rachel Melius, and Elexis Kramp.
Boekelheide has plenty of experience winning state titles with multiple championships on her resume and said experience helps her in big moments.
“The pressure is sometimes overwhelming and it can get to you easily,” she said, “so I think having that experience and being a senior helps a bunch.”
While state titles are nothing new for Boekelheide Thursday’s championship was a first-time experience.
“This is my first relay state championship and my last relay run in high school,” Boekelheide said, “so it just means so much being able to go out first.”
The boys’ pole vault featured a tight finish.
Irene-Wakonda’s Jordan Stockland edged Ipswich’s Brody Davis and Warner’s Chays Mansfield, who finished second and third, respectively.
The top three competitors all cleared 13-feet, 3-inches, but the tiebreaker put Mansfield in third.
“I came in with a clear mindset. I wasn’t worried about ranking or who could beat me. I was worried about jumping my best and improving what I needed to improve on,” Mansfield said. “Ultimately, I PR’d, so today’s a win for me and a good way to end my career.”
Mansfield said he enjoyed the tight competition that the day brought.
“It’s so much fun,” Mansfield said. “Last year, Rasmus (Loken) blew everybody out of the water and it was kind of a bummer, because you didn’t have a chance to prove yourself,” Mansfield said of the former Ipswich vaulter. “But today all three of us were able to attempt 13-6 and we had the chance to prove to everybody in the stands and ourselves that you’re the best.”
Even though Mansfield didn’t get the win, his school sure made its mark on the pole vault with three Monarchs placing in the top eight, including a fifth from Easton Bruns and a seventh from Paxton Johnson.
Mansfield gave the credit to his coaches and some other knowledge picked up along the way.
“We get great coaching not only from our head coach, but also from college athletes and some stuff online,” Mansfield said. “We kind of pick up stuff at different meets and ultimately iron sharpens iron and that’s how you get the best athletes across the board.”
The meet got started with plenty of records broken.
One of those records came from Bennett County’s Rush O’Neill, who broke the meet record in the long jump not once but twice.
O’Neill’s first record jump measured 23-4, then he topped it with a mark of 23-11.
“I knew something special was going to happen,” O’Neill said when asked how he felt after his first jump.
O’Neill’s record-breaking mark gave him first place over Dawson Handcock from Wall, who jumped 22-1.75 and Aberdeen Christian’s Dylan Hofer, who came in third with a jump of 20-8.50.
“I’m very blessed,” O’Neill said. “Thank God for my ability to jump like I did today.”
O’Neill also talked about not getting complacent after he broke the state record the first time.
“Whether your foot is off the board, or you need to make your mechanics or landing better, you can always improve,” O’Neill said.
The Knights of Aberdeen Christian had a busy and productive day.
“Great day,” said Christian coach Sam Bjorkman. “Boys did what they needed to today to make the finals in the 4×1. Girls ran a season best in the 4×1 and were just off the finals. Dylan got into the finals for the 100, which is awesome for us and it’s a strong field. The kids did a good job managing the competition for the heat. Hopefully they’re prepped for (Friday).”
To see the state meet results, click on the following link:
