FLANDREAU – In the last day competitors can participate to try and make their times and distances state worthy, Flandreau hosted the “Last Chance Meet” for seven teams under sunny skies and a calm wind. It was the only home meet of the season for Flandreau at the Barnes-Evan Track.
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FLANDREAU – In the last day competitors can participate to try and make their times and distances state worthy, Flandreau hosted the “Last Chance Meet” for seven teams under sunny skies and a calm wind. It was the only home meet of the season for Flandreau at the Barnes-Evan Track.
“It was a perfect day for our Flier guys and gals to achieve one last PR (personal record) of the regular season and also improve marks going into the State Meet,” said Coach Owen Parsley.
“It’s always hard to see seniors finish out their high school track and field career but it’s always rewarding to see the impact they made in improving our program.”
Clark-Willow Lake won the girls team portion with a score of 146 points. Sioux Valley was second, 132.5, and the Fliers were third, 127.
The boys’ division was won by Sioux Valley with 163 points. The Fliers scored 117.33 points to take fifth.
Two of the girls’ relays team were first place winners. The 4x400 meter relay team of Faith Wiese, Kiley Westberry, Ella Hoffman and Morgan Sheppard set a new school record in winning that race in a time of 4:06.46. The old record was set in 2001 and was 4:09.2.
“The 4X400 girls, with no competition around them but the clock, closed out the day with a phenomenal run,” noted Parsley. “The squad of Wiese (60.05), Westberry (62.4), Hoffman (63.0), and Sheppard (61.0), puts them at #4 in the State and breaking a 2001 school record by nearly three seconds. This crew is so special and they’re not even done yet!”
The 4x800 meter relay team of Westberry, Sheppard, Josie Hamilton and Wiese also were first place medal winners in a time of 9:55.19.
“They missed their own school record mark by less than a second,” said Parsley.
Also taking first place individually for the girls were Hoffman in the 100 meter dash and Sheppard in the 400 meter dash, both with PRs on the season. Sheppard’s 400 run is now the second fastest in school history.
“Senior Lily Klein finished with a PR in shot and javelin, now the school record holder at 88’0”, said Parsley. “Lily has made such a mark on Flandreau T&F with running and throwing. She’s the kind of person you want on your sports team with her quality character, leadership, and relentless drive. Glad to see her name will be on the record board and grateful for her years with the T&F program.”
Champions for the boys were Matthew Gassman in the pole vault at 10’ and the medley team of Micah Otto, Ben Kulm and Brenton Westberry with their time of 3:42.4. This time improved them to #14 in the State and number nine all time on the Flandreau Boys Top Ten list.
“At State next week, we hope they can continue to do their job, win out in their heat, and finish in the top 8 for the Fliers,” Parsley added.
“After 30 years of not having pole vault in Flandreau, the Fliers were finally able to host the pole vault event at our home meet,” said Parsley There was some heartbreak starting the day in the pole vault as senior Lanz Dailey entered the day tied for 21st at 10’6” in the Top 24 for State, but eventually was bumped out and did not qualify for the meet. Fellow senior Matt Gassman, his first year in pole vault, also improved by a whole foot and finished his season at 10’0”, winning the meet for the Fliers. Pole vault has returned to Flandreau in the last four years, and we’ve never had someone hit 10’0 until this season, and I’m very thankful and proud to have two sensational seniors like Lanz and Matt do it, and they really have “raised the bar” for our program, along with our helpful and quality volunteer coaching from teacher of the year Scott Ross.”
Parsley also added that some PRs were set for his athletes: Westberry and Abe Streitz in the 100, Alex Poitra and Teague Bergjord in the 400, Luke Sheppard in the 200, Sam Schmidt in the mile, Xavier Bien and Willian Lone Bear in discus and Tucker Hemmer in triple jump.
For the girls, PR were set by Morgan Kontz, and Hailieanne Schepel (100), Morgan Sheppard and Claire Wegner (400), Dreamer Cournoyer (800) and Diamond Roy (1600),
Flandreau will send five boys and five girls to the Class A portion of the SDHSAA State Track and Field Championships starting Thursday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
Parsley concluded, “Our athletes our peaking at the right time and we are primed and ready to head into the State Meet this week. I’m so excited to see how we finish and I really hope everyone can get out to the State Meet and cheer on our Fliers. We really hope to make a statement at state as we use the gift and share the gift!”
State Participants are:
Brenton Westberry: 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, 4x400 and Medley relays
Micah Otto: High Jump 4x400 and Medley relays
Last Chance Results Boys
100 m dash: 2nd Brenton Westberry 11.50; 8th Alex Poitra 12.13
200 m dash: 6th Poitra 25.45; 8th Luke Sheppard 25.67
800 m run: 4th Matthew Gassman 2:21.86; 8th Nate Hobbie 2:25.89
1600 m run: 3rd Tanner Reed 5:09.46; 5th Sam Schmidt 5:19.83; 7th Kenton James 5:27.45
3200 m run: 2nd Logan Kontz 11:52.37; 5th Daniel Hobbie 12:12.89
4x100 m relay: 5th EIlijah Johnson, Franklin Donis Castillo, Abe Streitz, Cam Flute 50.76
4x200 m relay: 6th Johnson, Donis Castillo, Streitz, Flute 1:48.02
4x400 m relay: 3rd Micah Otto, Paul Parsley, Ben Kulm, Westberry 3:32.89
4x800 m relay: 2nd Schmidt, James, Wyatt Kontz, D Hobbie 9:35.72
Medley relay: 1st Otto, Kulm, Parsley, Westberry 3:42.4
Discus: 7th Xavier Bien 111’0”
Javelin: 8th Gassman 110’7”
