Dakota Relays: Eight greats set for 800 special

When it comes to being versatile, Ipswich's Macy Heinz is special. How many other runners, after all, have claimed state titles in the 100 meter dash and the 1,600 in the same year?

If it's a race, then chances are Heinz has a shot to win it. Heinz has 11 state titles to her name since dashing onto the South Dakota track and field scene as a seventh-grader in 2012.

Friday at the 90th annual Howard Wood Dakota Relays, the special sophomore will carry the Class B torch for the 800-meter girls special event.

It's familiar territory for Heinz, who won the 800 special in 2013 with a time of 2:16.91 — the last time it was run at the Dakota Relays. Her victory in '13 also broke a streak of four-straight special event wins by out-of-state competition from North Dakota.

That Heinz has shaved a second off that winning time is a scary prospect for the competition.

"She's in the best shape that she's ever been," said Coach Todd Thorson. "She's already ran a personal best in the mile, the 200 and the 800 this year."

On Saturday at the Tiger Relays — in 45 degree weather — Heinz won the 800 in a personal-best 2:15.8, the fastest time by a South Dakota runner this year. (Thorson said the stopwatch time on it was actually 2:15.56.)

Heinz won't be alone Friday, though — seven other fierce competitors stand in her way. Unfortunately, Pierre standout Courtney Dowling — who injured her hamstring over the weekend at the Pierre Legion Relays — won't be one of them.

An accomplished sprinter and last year's 200 dash special event winner, Dowling will be replaced in Lane 1 by Rapid City Stevens' Jamie Schweiss. The junior posted the second fastest 800 time among Class AA runners this season with a 2:17.9 mark at the Pomona Invitational in Lakewood, Colo. Schweiss also has the fastest S.D. time this year in the 3,200 at 11:26.2.

Teammate Emily Person, a senior and University of Wyoming track and cross country recruit, brings a 2:17.06 personal best to Friday's event. The team captain finished runner-up in the 800 at state in 2012 and helped the Raiders claim gold last year in the 3,200 relay.

'AA' entrant freshman Jasmyne Cooper of Lincoln should be in the mix. Cooper won a state cross country title in the fall, but isn't just a distance specialist. Her 2:17.6 time in the 800 this season is second only to Heinz, and Cooper even has three school records.

"Lincoln's had a good track program in the past," said Coach Jim Jarovski, alluding to the many great teams under Rich and Mark Greeno. "For Jasmyne to have three school records already is impressive. I think she's as good as anyone in the state."

Roosevelt senior and Augustana track recruit Brooke DeVos brings ample experience to Friday's race with 11 career podium finishes at state, including a fourth-place finish (PR of 2:18.5) in the 800 last year. DeVos is running in place of Brookings sophomore Madison Gray, the 800 state champ from a season ago nursing an injury.

Rounding out the South Dakota runners is Tori Glazier, but with a PR of 2:16.13 in the 800, there's no chance the Custer freshman will be overlooked. Glazier's a three-time 'A' champion, winning the 800 the past two seasons as well as the 1,600 a year ago.

Of course, no Dakota Relays special event would be complete without some of the best that neighboring North Dakota and Minnesota have to offer. To that end, either Asha Smith or Kayla Huhnerkoch could very well return to their home states as a Howard Wood champion.

Smith, of Watford City, N.D., brings the best time to Friday's event with a blistering PR of 2:14.54 in the 800 — a time that earned the junior a state title last year to go with three championships in the 3,200 and two in the 1,600. Smith is also a state cross country champion.

Huhnerkoch ran a 2:15.01 in the 800 to be Minnesota's Class A runner-up at last year's state tournament. The Redwood Valley (Redwood Falls) junior claimed gold at state in the 800 in 2011 and also has a pair of 1,600 titles at state to her credit. Amid a rich mix of South Dakota talent, Smith and Huhnerkoch bring the best times to the event.

Even with Dowling out, the field is stacked. It's what separates the special events from others.

"It's called what it is for a reason," Thorson said. "They try to take the best in the area and they get to compete against each other all classes and top kids from out of state. It's kind of the highlight event of the year in my opinion in South Dakota."

For those incredible few who walk away champions, the honor holds special weight.

"To be a Howard Wood champion is harder than being a state champion, and I think it's one of the premier events in the midwest," Jarovski said.

MEET THE ATHLETES

Jamie Schweiss| School: RC Stevens | Class: Junior

Macy Heinz | School: Ipswich | Class: Sophomore

Tori Glazier | School: Custer | Class: Freshman

Asha Smith |School: Watford City (N.D.) | Class: Junior

Kayla Huhnerkoch | School: Redwood Valley (Minn.) | Class: Senior

Jasmyne Cooper | School: Lincoln | Class: Freshman

Emily Person | School: RC Stevens | Class: Senior

Brooke DeVos | School: Roosevelt | Class: Senior

AT A GLANCE

Special event: Girls 800-meter run

When/where: Friday, 7:55 p.m., Howard Wood Field

Online: Watch live video of the race with interviews and analysis at argusleader.com

Coming Wednesday: Preview of boys special event 200-meter dash