WEDDELL LOOKING TO DIP UNDER 2:00 IN CLASS A, 800 METER RUN

2014 South Dakota State Meet Special Features are written by South Dakota MileSplit Special Guest, Rich Winter. 
You can follow Rich Winter's blog at http://panicbutton.sportsblog.com/.
Photo via Kernit Grimshaw (kernit.zenfolio.com)
 
By Rich Winter

    It always seems like Todd County distance runner Tobias Weddell comes on when the pressure is the biggest.

    After finishing fifth in the Region cross country meet last fall, Weddell dialed up a big one at the state meet and came home in fifth place in the state, beating all of the Region foes that beat him just one week earlier.

  At last year's state track meet, after Weddell failed to medal in the 3200, he came back to set a personal record in the 1600 and earn 5th place in the state.

    This season Weddell will be competing in the 4x800 this morning and then will turn his attention to the 800 meter final this afternoon. 

    Weddell comes in with the 7th best qualifying time at 2:04.1,but he has flirted with the 2:00 barrier several times on relay carries in the Falcons 4x800

  The last Todd County runner to go under 2:00 was Jim Bromm who captured the Gold medal in this event in 1986.

   Look for Brennan Witt of Custer, who has the fastest time in the field to lead early and win the race.

  After that it's a free-for-all with seven other guys battling to get under 2:00.

   Yager of Hot Springs and Glazier of Custer have the track credentials, but none of them have the smooth,effortless stride this young junior from Todd County has. 

 For all of today's Class A track photos and photos from all classes on Saturday, check, out kenit.zenpholio.com.....Great stuff in there!

Section 3  Timed Finals
 7-1A    478 Yost, Rawson                  11 Clark/Willow Lak    2:04.00 
 5-2A    614 Guse, Reid                    12 Madison             2:01.50 
 3-3A    487 Glazier, Chase                12 Custer              1:59.30 
 1-4A    498 Witt, Brennan                 12 Custer              1:56.90 
 2-5A    589 Yager, Eric                   12 Hot Springs         1:59.10 
 4-6A    504 Perryman, Blake               12 Dakota Valley       2:01.40 
 6-7A    693 Vandekamp, Jake               12 SF Christian        2:03.30  
8-8A    763 Weddell, Tobias               11 Todd County         2:04.10