SPORTS

State track Class AA preview: Roosevelt, Lincoln boys locked in battle

Justin Wulf
jwulf@argusleader.com

The Roosevelt and Lincoln boys have been sparring seemingly all school year. In November, the Patriots took care of business on the turf with a football championship, while the Rough Riders repaid the favor with a state basketball title in March.

Therefore, Friday begins a final chapter fitting off the back-and-forth duel between the Sioux Falls schools they enter as the top challengers for the Class AA state track and field championship.

The Riders finished runner-up to three-time defending champion Washington last year, while Lincoln finished fifth. Both have their eye at the top of the podium this weekend, though.

"We're hoping we're in the mix to win the dang thing at the end of the day Saturday," said Roosevelt coach Jason Wagoner. "We're not as deep as we were last year, but we've got some firepower with a few kids that are hopefully going to score some points for us and keep us in the mix."

Senior thrower Jack Lembcke has been as reliable as anyone for Roosevelt this season as he looks to repeat his discus and shot put titles. The University of Washington recruit, who owns top-10 throws in both events nationally, has been gunning for the 200-foot mark in the discus and would be just the second athlete in South Dakota history to hit 200-or-better.

"He's raised it to a whole new level," said Wagoner. "When you can be top-10 in the country in both throws, that's something pretty special."

The Riders will also look to senior David Mulbah, who owns the fastest qualifying time in the 100- (10.4) and 200-meter (21.6) as well as the top high jump at 6-7, which is tied with Yankton's J.J. Hejna and Pierre's Riley Sears. Roosevelt junior Taryn Christion also owns the best long jump performance (21-9.25).

While the Rough Riders' points are scattered through both the track and field events, Lincoln poses its biggest threat in nearly every event on the track.

Will Lauer holds the top time in the 3,200 at 9:05.5 – a mark that beat Rod DeHaven's Howard Wood Relays record – as well as the second-best 1,600 time (4:24.1), while Free Bump's 800 time of 1:58.5 is third-best in Class AA this season. Senior Adam Belhaj owns top-three qualifying times in the 100, 200 and 400 to round out potentially significant points, not including the Pats' relay depth.

"From the 100 to 3,200, they've got somebody pushing to win all of those," said Washington coach Everett Gebhart.

"They've got a lot of depth where they can move kids around on relays," added Wagoner. "Especially Day 2, depth becomes a big thing."

Rapid City Central also boasts strong relay teams, while Brandon Valley should be able to make a charge behind Nebraska recruit Cam Holmes. Meanwhile, Washington could sneak in with bulk points in the hurdles as Dan Marlette, A.J. Breck and Tanner Waddell hold the three fastest 300 hurdles times.

"I'm not counting them out," said Wagoner. "Gebby might be saying they're down this year, but they'll be there."

While the boys' battle centers around Sioux Falls, the chase for the girls title is once again a West River fight between Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central. The Raiders have won 15 of the last 18 state championship, but are on a two-year drought with back-to-back runner-up finishes.

Senior Tamara Gorman and junior Emily Person are the focal points for Stevens' strong distance races, while Person, Renae Dykstra and Kendra Dykstra own three of the top five qualifying times in the 800. The Raiders also have the fastest times in the 3,200 and medley relays.

The key for Rapid City Central lies closer to the sprints as well as with Colette Christensen, a two-time state high jump champion who has top-two performances in the high jump, triple jump and long jump this season.

Brandon Valley, which won both the Metro Conference and ESD Conference titles, is expected to file in behind its Rapid City counterparts with strong relay teams (top-3 times in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and medley relays).

With a runner-up finish at the Metro Conference meet, Gebhart is hoping his girls can jostle their way into a top-four position. If the Warriors are going to do so, however, they'll need one final strong meet from senior Michaela Mayer, who has been the cornerstone to the Warriors' field events for the last few seasons. The defending shot put champion has the top throw in the event this season (46-9.5) and should be locked in a fight with O'Gorman's Jessica Mieras for the discus.

"We're going to need to get 18-20 points out of her if we're going to get into the top four," said Gebhart, adding that Mayer is aiming at the state shot put record (48-1.5). "He goal coming into the year was to hit that state record and then get as close to 50 as she can. She's been throwing really well, so I think she's got a pretty good shot."

Roosevelt is looking for big points from senior Val Moos and junior Brooke DeVos. Moos, the defending 300 hurdles champion, holds the top time in the event and the second-fastest time in the 100 hurdles, while DeVos is an outside contender in loaded 400 and 800 fields.

Meanwhile, Brookings senior Alexis Gannon will look to defend her state long jump and triple jump titles, while Pierre sophomore Cortney Dowling is the favorite to repeat as the 100 and 200 champion as well push for the 400 title.

She's got to be the favorite (in the 100, 200 and 400)," said Gebhart. "She could be a part of 40 points for Pierre. I don't know if they can score enough to win, but they'll make a run for the top four."

STATE TRACK MEET SCHEDULE

Friday

First Session - At Howard Wood Field (Class B) and Madison (Class A)

9:30 a.m. - B-A boys shot put; B-A girls long jump

10:00 - Girls 100 hurdles prelims

10:15 - Boys 110 hurdles prelims

10:30 - Girls 3,200 relay

11:00 - Girls 100 prelims

11:15 - Boys 100 prelims

11:30 - Boys 3,200 relay; B-A girls pole vault; B-A boys long jump; B girls discus

11:55 - Girls 100 semifinals

12:05 - Boys 100 semifinals

12:15 - Girls 800 relay prelims

12:30 - Boys 800 relay prelims

First Session - At McEneaney Field (Class AA)

10:30 a.m. - Girls discus; girls long jump; boys high jump

11:00 - Girls 100 hurdles prelims

11:15 - Boys 110 hurdles prelims

11:30 - Girls 3,200 relay

11:50 - Girls 100 prelims

Noon - Boys 100 prelims

12:10 - Boys 3,200 relay

12:30 - Girls 800 relay prelims; girls pole vault; boys long jump

12:45 - Boys 800 relay prelims

Second Session - All Sites

2 p.m. - B-AA boys discus; A girls shot put; B-AA girls triple jump; A girls high jump

2:30 - Girls 400 relay prelims

2:40 - Boys 400 relay prelims

2:50 - Girls 400 prelims

3:00 - Boys 400 prelims

3:15 - Girls 300 hurdles prelims

3:30 - Boys 300 hurdles prelims

3:45 - Girls medley relay prelims

4:00 - Boys medley relay prelims; B-A-AA boys pole vault; B-AA boys triple jump; A boys high jump; B girls shot put; AA girls high jump

4:15 - Girls 800 run

4:25 - Boys 800

4:35 - Girls 200 prelims

4:50 - Boys 200 prelims

5:05 - Girls 3,200 run

5:25 - Boys 3,200 run

5:40 - Girls 1,600 relay prelims

6:00 - Boys 1,600 relay prelims

Saturday

Final Session (all classes at Howard Wood Field)

All events are finals (in order B-A-AA)

9 a.m. - B girls high jump; A girls discus; A boys triple jump; AA boys shot put

9:30 - Girls 100 hurdles

9:45 - Boys 110 hurdles

9:55 - Girls 100

10:10 - Boys 100

10:25 - Wheelchair 100 (exhibition only)

10:30 - Girls 800 relay

10:45 - Boys 800 relay

11:00 - Girls 1,600

11:20 - Boys 1,600

11:45 - Girls 400 relay

11:55 - Boys 400 relay

12:10 - Girls 400

12:25 - Boys 400

12:40 - Girls 300 hurdles

12:55 - Boys 300 hurdles

1:10 - Girls medley relay

1:25 - Boys medley relay

1:45 - Girls 200

2:00 - Boys 200

2:10 - Distinguished Service Awards; NFOA Track Official's Award; 25-year coaches awards; 25-year officials awards

2:25 - Girls 1,600 relay

2:40 - Boys 1,600 relay

ON YOUR MARKS

Event: The 109th running of the state high school track meet begins Friday, with Class AA at O'Gorman High, Class A in Madison and Class B at Howard Wood Field. All classes will conclude the meet Saturday at Howard Wood.

Athletes: There will be a total of 2,422 individual competitors from 163 schools at the meet.

Inside: View a list of all-time state track records that could possibly fall this weekend. Page 3D

Coming up: Look for previews of the Class A and Class B meets in Friday's Argus Leader.

Online: Watch Sports Web Live today at 2 p.m. as Stu Whitney previews the meet with longtime track announcer Greg Merrigan and preps guru Dan Genzler at ARGUSLEADER.COM

on the brink – a look at south dakota records that could fall at this year's state meet

With the state track meet fast-approaching, here's a look at some state records that have the potential to be re-written:

Girls triple jump (Record: 41-4.5, Alexis Gannon, Brookings, 2014)

Gannon held three of the top five jumps in state history coming into the season and flirted with the previous state record of 40-4.5 (set by Rapid City Central's Colette Christensen in 2012) several times this spring. The University of North Carolina recruit finally strung out a state record leap three weeks ago in Yankton and could close out her career with another chart topper. Then again, Christensen (in-season qualifier of 38-6) could also reclaim her place at the summit.

Boys discus (Record: 211-4, George Amundson, Aberdeen Central, 1969)

Roosevelt senior Jack Lembcke has been chasing the 200-foot barrier all season, but has consistently hit in the 190-foot range down the stretch. His season-best throw of 198-3 is tied for third in the nation, according to DyeStat, and is already the second-best throw in state high school boys history. The University of Washington recruit has been automatic when it comes to winning the event, but a final attempt on his home turf (and perhaps a little wind) could boost him to No. 1 all-time.

Girls shot put (Record: 48-1.5, Kris Schaffer, Custer, 2006)

Michaela Mayer, the two-time defending Class AA state champion, isn't ready to settle for a third straight title. The Washington senior and University of Minnesota recruit has had her eye city and meet records all season with the state record being the crown jewel. Mayer, who entered the spring with the sixth-best throw in the state, also hammered out the second-best throw all-time at 46-9.5 this season. Mayer might not have much competition in the event, meaning she'll be on her own to raise the bar.

Boys 100 dash (Record: 10.3, Nate Gerry, Washington, 2013)

Last season, Nate Gerry's record watch captivated the big meets with the University of Nebraska defensive back churning out lightning fast sprint times. This year, David Mulbah has quietly chased the state high jump record while positioning for a shot at Gerry's 100 mark. Mulbah's state qualifying time of 10.4 is in the ballpark, and with the Rough Riders needing everything they can get from the senior this weekend, he might be able to find an extra gear through all the commotion.

Boys 400 relay (Record: 42.46, Lincoln, 1997)

Last year, four different school took their shot at the Patriots' relay title as Watertown, Washington, Roosevelt and Rapid City Central all posted top-10 all-time performances, only to come up short. The Cobblers' outfit returned three of the four legs that clocked in at 42.97 a year ago in Alex Klapperich, Asher Pikula and Quade Ruffin-Hill. Donavin Neugebauer joined the mix this season and helped the Cobblers crank out a school record time of 42.7, which ranks sixth all-time in South Dakota.

• See scoreboard page for a complete list of all-time South Dakota records, Page 4D