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Herreid-Selby Area's Begeman, Faulkton Area's Stoll pace top performers

roger merriam, watertown public opinion
·3 min read
Brenden Begeman of Herreid-Selby Area competes in the Class B boys' triple jump during the 2022 South Dakota State High School Track and field Championships at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
Brenden Begeman of Herreid-Selby Area competes in the Class B boys' triple jump during the 2022 South Dakota State High School Track and field Championships at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

It it wasn't for high school track and field meets last week, there wouldn't be a top performers list from March 27-April 2,.

Thanks to winter's hold on northeastern South Dakota, the only activities that were held last week were indoor meets at Aberdeen, Brookings and Vermillion.

The big highlights came from Herreid-Selby Area senior Brenden Begeman in the Northern State Open and Faulkton Area senior Daniel Stoll in the Dewey Donat Classic, which were both held in the Barnett Center.

Begeman won the boys' 55-meter dash, shot put and long jump in the NSU Open and Stoll took the boys' 55 and 200 dashes and also ran on the winning 1,600 relay in the Dewey Donat Classic.

Other top performers from last week include:

Hamlin's Gracelyn Leiseth warms up for the shot put at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays on Friday, May 6, 2022, in Sioux Falls. Leiseth won the event with a meet record and all-time state record toss of 48 feet, 11 inches. Looking on is Kami Wadsworth of Hamlin.
Hamlin's Gracelyn Leiseth warms up for the shot put at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays on Friday, May 6, 2022, in Sioux Falls. Leiseth won the event with a meet record and all-time state record toss of 48 feet, 11 inches. Looking on is Kami Wadsworth of Hamlin.

Girls Track and Field

Gracelyn Leiseth, Hamlin: The state's all-time record holder in the shot put, the University of Florida recruit opened her season by winning the shot put at the Dan Lennon Class B Invite in the DakotaDome. Her winning throw of 52-6.5 is only 1/4-inch off her state record in the event.

Malia Kranz, Watertown: Speaking of records, the Arrow freshman won the shot put with a meet-record throw of 42 feet, 4 inches in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invite at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings. The throw is only a half-inch off Watertown's school record.

Shawnteah La Croix, Aberdeen Christian: La Croix won the 55 dash and also ran on the winning 1,600 relay in the Dewey Donat Classic at the Barnett Center.

Rachel Beaner, Aberdeen Christian: Beaner added a win in the 800 run and also ran on the winning 1,600 relay in the Dewey Donat Classic.

Ciara Frank, Aberdeen Central: Frank won the high jump at the Ruth Marske Indoor Invite.

Breckan Santjer, Aberdeen Central: Santjer took the pole vault in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invite.

Tri-State's Kaleb Foltz runs to the finish line as the anchor of the medley relay in the final day of the state track meet on Saturday, May 28, 2022, Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
Tri-State's Kaleb Foltz runs to the finish line as the anchor of the medley relay in the final day of the state track meet on Saturday, May 28, 2022, Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Boys Track and Field

Kaleb Foltz, Tri-State: Foltz won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs in the NSU Open.

Jayden Munroe, Aberdeen Roncalli: Munroe also won two individual events in the NSU Open, taking the 200 dash and the triple jump.

Owen Spartz, Watertown: Spartz set a meet record in winning the boys' pole vault in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational at Brookings. He won the event by clearing 15 feet.

Aiden Heimann, Aberdeen Central: Heimann ran on the Golden Eagles' winning 1,600-meter relay and also placed second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 hurdles at the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational.

Aiden Heimann of Aberdeen Central competes in the boys' 300-meter hurdles during the 2022 Watoma Relays track and field meet at Allen Mitchell Field in Watertown.
Aiden Heimann of Aberdeen Central competes in the boys' 300-meter hurdles during the 2022 Watoma Relays track and field meet at Allen Mitchell Field in Watertown.

Juven Hudson, Watertown: Hudson had a busy day in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational. He not only won the long jump but also finished second in the triple jump and sixth in the 100 dash.

Jayden Johnson, Milbank: OK, Johnson didn't win an event but still produced a second-place finish in the pole vault against some big-school competition in the Dan Lennon Class A Invite in the DakotaDome.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Area high school activities limited to indoor track meets last week.