A total of 11 Britton-Hecla athletes, six boys and five girls, have qualified in 13 events for the Class A state track meet scheduled for Sioux Falls Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Coach Stephanie Symens’ squad wrapped up its regular season schedule with meets at Warner and Webster last week Wednesday and Thursday. The top 24 qualifiers in each event earned state berths. Some of those athletes qualified in more than four events or were not competing at state which allowed some thinclads on the bubble to also earn state spots.
Jaxon Zuehlke is a four-time qualifier, ranking 19th in javelin and teaming up with Drew Heitmann, Jack Teveldal, and Ben Suther to rank 13th in the 1600 relay and 19th in the medley relay. He also is a member of the 3200 relay quartet with Teveldal, Heitmann, and Joseph O’Brien that is ranked 14th. Teveldal also qualified in the 800 run in the 12th position and Chaz Vietor is ranked 13th in high jump.
Abby Lee heads the girls contingent, standing in the fourth spot in triple jump and 15th in long jump. Daynika Zuehlke is 14th in javelin, Jaelee Grupe 14th in high jump, Ailyn Lee 21st in triple jump, and Marley Sundin 22nd in the 100 dash.
“When we head to the state meet this weekend it is going to be warm, something that the northeast corner of South Dakota is not used to running in this year,” noted Symens. “Keeping the kids hydrated is our number one priority. We should be able to compete well when we are down there. Our boys 1600 relay team will be trying to break the school record set in 1985 by L. Eckmann, S. Wallace, D. Walker and K. Jones of 3:32.10. In Webster last Thursday the boys ran 3:33.09, so they are very close. It is going to be a great weekend to end our season.”
In the final two meets of the season the B-H boys came up with one of its best performances of the season to win the team title over a 16-team field, while the girls placed third. Winning event titles were the boys 1600 and 3200 relays, Ben Suther in the 200 dash and Chaz Vietor in the high jump. Abby Lee won both the triple jump and long jump crowns in both the Webster and Warner meets.
FOR FULL STATS SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
