Track: Records fall, times improve at Black Hills Track Classic

By Jason Gross, Meade County Times

One of South Dakota's oldest high school track and field records fell by the wayside at Saturday's Black Hills Track Classic in Sturgis.

D.J. Thompson of Spearfish crosses the finish line well ahead of the pack for the win in the boys’ version of a special 400-meter dash. (Dick Kettlewell/Journal staff)

Matt Tetzlaff, a sophomore at Pierre T.F. Riggs, won the boys 110-meter hurdles final in a state-record time of 14.04 seconds. The old mark of 14.10 seconds was set by Mark Larscheid of Pierre in 1969.

"I tried to stay close to the hurdles and get a great start," Tetzlaff said. He gave credit to Rapid City Central's Chris Hopkins, who finished second in 14.20 seconds, for pushing him.

The record motivated Tetzlaff a great deal. He added, "I honestly didn't think I would get it this year, but it's been in my head for a few years."

Tetzlaff won this event at last season's state meet. The only change he made going into this year, he said, was to increase his intensity.

He was asked what he would like to do next and said, "Re-break it, I guess. Getting down into the 13s would be nice."

It was also a special day for Rapid City Central ninth-grader Jasmyne King, who edged Gayville-Volin's Emma Erickson to win the girls Special 400 dash. King's time was 56.73 seconds compared to 56.75 for Erickson.

King took the lead at the 200-meter mark. Erickson drew even on the back stretch before King pulled away for the win.

The Cobbler's normal strategy is to sprint hard the first 200 meters and maintain the pace for the last 200. Because of Erickson, King said, she had to do things differently.

"It means a lot being a freshman," King said of winning the race. She added her season is going well so far.

King, who placed between second and fourth in four events at last season's state meet, said her goals this year are to finish first across the board. Other aims, she continued, are to run a 55-second 400, 24-second 200, and an 11.90-second 100 in addition to soaring 18 feet in the long jump.

Spearfish senior D.J. Thompson took the lead at the 300-meter mark en route to winning the boys Special 400 dash. His time was 50.28 seconds.

Thompson said of his time, "I'm not particularly excited about it, but I'm not mad about it. It's still pretty good." He added his times have gradually been improving, and his goal is a 47-second 400.

The Spartan said he stuck to his strategy of going all-out for the first 100 meters, "striding out" on the backstretch, and then going as hard as he can.

Thompson added the season is going well for him. Before the year ends, he said, he would also like to improve his 800 time and get on a championship relay team.

Central head coach Dave Dolan said King's 400 clocking was phenomenal.

"We're a little bit ahead of where we were last year at this time with her. She's got some high goals to try and achieve, and we've got to keep working hard to get there."

Dolan also praised Taylor Slingsby in the boys pole vault, Mallory Carda in the girls 800, Holly Bloom and Callie Baum in the girls pole vault, Brittany Deranleau in the girls discus, Jay Meverden and Cedric Williams in the boys relays, and Gabe Palmer and Derrick Oster in the hurdles.

Dolan said of the boys 110 hurdles final, "Two kids running that fast is awfully special. They'll battle all year long until the end."

Paul Hendry, Stevens' head coach, said the Raiders had great efforts from everyone. He cited Emily DeVries, who collected first-place medals in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 800 relay, and 1,600 relay.

"The 100 hurdles was only her third time running it," Hendry said of DeVries. "She's coming along very well and working hard."

Tim Brown excelled in the relays, according to Hendry, and Chad Oetken performed well in the long jump.

Today was one of the first meets Stevens was able to get all of its girls on the track, according to Hendry. "We just want to keep working hard and see what happens."

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