Native Sun News: Reservation athletes largely missing at track and field championship


First turn of the boys Class A 1600 meters, from left: Ilijah Coleman, Pine Ridge (700); Phalem Azure, Sisseton (24); Jack Fast Wolf, Red Cloud (701); Elliot Dubray, Bennett County, (458(. Photo by James Giago Davies

St. Thomas More dominates at State A championships
Valandra places in three events
By James Giago Davies
Native Sun News Sports Editor
www.nsweekly.com

SIOUX FALLS –– For a brief time last Saturday afternoon, bright sunshine lit up the brick red track encircling Howard Wood Field, but rain is what most will remember about these state track and field championships. All weekend long, events were either delayed or the schedule was sped up “to stay ahead of the weather.”

Athletes huddled under the grand stands, or under their respective team tents, and waited for their turn to go out into the drizzle and compete. Runoff poured down over entryways and exits, but when events finally did get underway after over an hour long delay, little rain fell during actual competition.

Sioux Falls Lincoln would win both the Boys and Girls championships, largely on the strength of relay points, as each had only one individual champion on the day, both at 1600 meters; Jasmyne Cooper for the Girls (5:01.06), and Gabe Peters for the Boys (4:20.41).

The top Class AA West River performers were Rapid City Steven’s Elizabeth Schafer, who won both the Girls 100 and 300 meter hurdles (14.89 and 43.92), and Bennett Fierro, also of Stevens, taking first in the 110 and 300 hurdles (14.83 and 40.08).


Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: St. Thomas More dominates at State A championships

(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)

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