News Summary

The track and field season has officially started in northeastern South Dakota, showcasing young athletes from the Watertown and Aberdeen regions. As they prepare for the South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships from May 29-31, standout competitors, including seniors and juniors, are ready to make their mark. With a blend of sprinters, distance runners, throwers, and jumpers, the season promises thrilling performances and a strong showing of community spirit as supporters rally behind their local talents.

Spring Track and Field Season is Heating Up in Northeastern South Dakota!

As the sun begins to shine brighter and the days stretch a little longer, northeastern South Dakota is preparing to showcase its youth talent in the exhilarating world of track and field! This year, the outdoor season is officially underway, running full steam ahead towards the highly anticipated South Dakota High School Track and Field Championships, set to take place from May 29-31 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Stars are Born

This season has some incredible athletes ready to take the track by storm. In the Watertown and Aberdeen regions, we’ve got a stellar lineup of boys track athletes to keep an eye on. Let’s take a closer look at these standout competitors:

  • Jaxon Rose, a senior, is wrapping up his final high school season with a bang as he prepares to join the University of Sioux Falls for football. Last season, he made waves by placing fourth in the Class A 100m, eighth in the 200m, and even fifth in the 110m hurdles at state!
  • Dakota Van Meeteren, also a senior and a South Dakota State recruit, is another athlete to watch. He secured second place in both the 100m and 200m dashes at the previous state meet and claimed fourth in the 400m. Plus, he added his skills to a fourth-place finish in the 1,600m relay in 2023.
  • Then there’s Thue, a junior with an impressive record! He participated in three relays that placed at state, and most notably, he clinched fourth in the 1,600m this year and has a solid track record in the 800m and other events.
  • Loken returns this season as the defending state Class B pole vault champion, finishing third this year! It’ll be exciting to see if he can reclaim his title.
  • Davis, another junior, made a mark with a fifth-place finish in pole vaulting during the year. This young talent is another one to watch in the upcoming championship showdowns.
  • Henrich, a senior, showcased his speed by snagging fourth in the Class B 200m, fifth in the 100m, and contributing to a fifth-place finish in the 400m relay at the previous state meet.
  • And don’t forget about Eng! This senior placed sixth in both the Class B 100m and 200m at state last spring and is sure to be a strong contender again.
  • Dauwen, another senior, played a key role in two state-placing Class AA relay teams last spring and is looking to build on that momentum.
  • Wurtz, who placed fifth in both the shot put and discus at state in 2023, also finished second in discus and sixth in shot put in 2024, proving to be quite versatile!
  • Wikinson, a junior, is gaining attention after finishing fourth at state in shot put, adding to the excitement of the upcoming season.
  • Hanson offers more excitement as he managed a fourth-place finish in the Class A 300m hurdles and ran on the state runner-up medley relay team.
  • Last but not least, Johnson, a junior, had a stunning moment this season by clearing an impressive 6 feet 4 inches in pole vaulting at the Estelline Sno Bird meet. He’s already a two-time Class A state placer!
  • Burns, another junior, placed fourth in pole vaulting and demonstrates great potential heading into the 2024 season.

Ready for Championship Season

The competition is wide open this spring, as athletes hailing from towns like Deuel, Ipswich, and Frederick Area bring a diverse blend of sprinters, distance runners, throwers, and jumpers to the meet. It’s that delightful time of year where we all come together to cheer for our local talents!

As the countdown to the championships continues, fans, families, and friends can anticipate an exciting three days of high-energy competition filled with heartwarming stories, record-breaking performances, and community spirit. We can’t wait to see who will rise to the occasion when the brightest stars take to the track and field!

Let’s rally behind these athletes and celebrate their hard work and dedication as they compete for track glory this spring!

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