Nelson and Heinz expected to duel for South Dakota Class B crown
By Rich Winter
I had to look no further than the Augie Meet of Champions this season to really realize how good Laura Nelson of Gayville-Volin is.
Yes, she's a Class B athlete, but how would she fare when she ran into the AA girls on the big stage?
Quite nicely - In fact, she crushed them all, running a time of 15:34 on a legitimate course against big-time competition.
Nelson is the defending Class B State champion.
In 2013, she defeated all-comers in the B ranks, running a 15:06 to lead her teammate, Genevieve Clark who finished 2nd a year ago.
Trailing them, in third place was Ipswich athlete, Macy Heinz who clocked a 15:51.
Heinz, you'll recall from the state track meet last spring, won the 100, 400, 800 and 1600.
Heinz has been ripping the competition she's run against this season and at the Region meet last week, she uncorked a big one.
The Ipswich sophomore crossed the line in 14:20 to lead a 1, 2, 3 finish by Ipswich.
It's always hard to compare times and courses, I just know we have two Division 1 athletes that are going to be toeing the line on Saturday in Huron. I expect these two to have a grueling and hard-fought race. On paper, Nelson is the favorite because she turned back all-comers at a big, AA meet. Heinz though, is one of the most talented athletes we've seen in the Class B ranks, maybe EVER!
Great race folks. If you're there to watch a different class race, make sure you attend the girls B final because it could be special!
Let's check out the top-3 from the other Regions.
Region 1
1st - McKayla Zirbel - Summit - 15:58
2nd - Alley Boomsma - Wolsey/Wessington - 16:14
3rd - Julie Lowen - James Valley Christian - 16:34
Region 2 -
Ashlyn Deknikker - Lake Preston - 16:13
Christina Vogel - St. Mary's Catholic - 16:15
Ellie Tuschen - Hanson - 16:16
Region 3
1st - Laura Nelson - Gayville-Volin - 15:01
2nd - Gevevieve Clark - Gayville-Volin - 15:45
3rd - Cailey Roth - Freeman - 15:50
Region 4
1st - Macy Heinz - Ipswich - 14:20
2nd - Tori Moore - Ipswich - 15:00
3rd - Aleah Steger - Ipswish - 15:11
Region 5
1st - Ellie Coyle - Philip - 16:09
2nd - Delaney Leber - Newell - 16:35
3rd - Katlin Knutson - Philip - 16:58
While the team race look's to be Ipswich's to lose, don't be surprised to see Gayville-Volin right with them. Elianna Clark, a GV 9th grader finished 9th at the Region meet with a time of 16:51. She's have to get up in the top-20 and Nelson and Clark would likely need to go 1st and 2nd at the top.
Should be a great race, here's a look at last year's top 25.
1 1 38 Laura Nelson 9 Gayville-Volin 15:06.03 6:05
2 2 36 Genevieve Clark 10 Gayville-Volin 15:39.98 6:19
3 1 54 Macy Heinz 9 Ipswich 15:51.68 6:23
4 1 95 Hannah Flatt 9 Potter County 15:57.03 6:26
5 2 55 Taylor Loken 11 Ipswich 16:01.28 6:27
6 3 56 Tori Moore 11 Ipswich 16:04.08 6:28
7 1 2 Janae Sampson 12 Arlington 16:05.83 6:29
8 1 19 Anna Wolles 12 Dell Rapids St. Mary 16:18.68 6:34
9 1 88 Ellie Coyle 10 Philip 16:22.33 6:36
10 1 32 Rebecca Eberts 10 Freeman 16:24.63 6:37
11 4 57 Aleah Steger 7 Ipswich 16:25.98 6:37
12 1 63 Rachel Buxcel 11 Jones County 16:26.03 6:37
13 1 85 Josie Clemens 9 Northwestern 16:26.98 6:38
14 1 74 Quinn Lulf 9 Lyman 16:27.93 6:38
15 1 93 Reganne Engebretson 10 Platte-Geddes 16:30.83 6:39
16 5 53 Bailey Hammrich 7 Ipswich 16:31.08 6:39
17 1 100 Savannah Huntley 11 Rapid City Christian 16:31.68 6:39
18 1 84 Mandee Williamson 8 Newell 16:32.63 6:40
19 2 87 Peyton Groft 8 Northwestern 16:33.73 6:40
20 1 23 Heidi Stoltenburg 10 Elkton-Lake Benton 16:34.38 6:41
21 1 106 Kelsey Vandenhemel 10 Stanley County 16:34.63 6:41
22 1 60 Khiree Held 10 James Valley Christian 16:35.98 6:41
23 1 119 Makayla Zirbel 8 Waubay/summit 16:37.33 6:42
24 1 5 Lexie Fernau 8 Burke/south Central 16:39.03 6:42