By Kandi Tonsager, The Bronc High School track teams participated in a couple of meets this week with many athletes improving their times and standings with new personal records and state rankings. The teams took to the track in Custer on Wednesday April 23rd with a limited number of participants and in Pierre on Friday April 25th.
Distance runners had some great races all around. In the 800 meter run, Sophomore Clifford Torberson improved his time to a 2:23 for a new Personal Record (PR). In the 1600 meter run, Sophomore Nathan Hudson has been working hard to break the 5 minute barrier with a previous race time of 5:04 and a new PR of 4:57 meeting his goal! Clifford Torberson and Thad McKenney (Frosh) also boasted PRs in the 1600. Sophomore Lennon Clarkson ran a 3200 meter race in Pierre on Friday, also his 17th birthday, and improved his race time to 9:48 (previous time 10:06), a new personal record for him. His time also earned him a SD State A ranking of number 3 for current standings!
For the Lady Bronc distance runners in the 800 meter run, Freshman Rhys Pearson ran a 2:22.19 coming in less than a second off the high school’s current record of 2:21.99 and beating her previous PR of 2:25.53. This put her ranked at number 6 in the state for current standings! Sophomore Misty Drieling had a season best in the 800 with a 2:47. 8th grade Varsity distance runner Lia Mundt also improved her 3200 meter race time to 11:29 from 11:43 for a new personal record, new school record and placing her at number 8 in the state!
For Broncs sprinters, Junior Slater Humbracht and Freshman Michael Koskey earned PRs in the 200 meter dash and Freshman Dante White earned a PR in the 400 meter dash. For the Lady Broncs, Freshman Addilynn VanSickle earned a PR in the 200 meter dash.
In relays, the Bronc4x800 team of Gavin Pearson, Odin Walding, Lennon Clarkson and Nathan Hudson ran a time of 8:48.95 for a new SD State A ranking of number 14 and the 4×400 team of Slater Humbracht, Tegan Fredrickson, Gavin Pearson and Kash Le LaCheur ran a time of 46 flat for a season best and new SD State A ranking at number 19. For the Lady Bronc relay runners, the 4×800 team of Lia Mundt, Rhys Pearson, Mikka Dunavant and Abbey Clendening ran a 10:50 for a season best and a SD State A ranking of number 18 and the 4×100 team of Jaz Olson, Mikka Dunavant, Mya Nowowiejski and Kailey Nowowiejski ran a time of 50.95 for a season best and new SD State A ranking of number 4.
Bronc thrower Junior Joseph McLennon earned a PR in discus with a distance of 125-07 and Sophomore Gabe Raba earned PRs in Discus with a throw of 127-09 and in Shot Put with a throw of 38-04.75. Chloe Merjil continues to top the school leader board for Lady Bronc throwing events. At the Custer meet Lady Bronc throwers earning PRs were Selene Walker, Alina Schaefer, Rachel Lee, Asia Maazotta and Lucila Merjil. The track teams compete this week at home on Tuesday April 29th, followed by the Howard Wood relays in Sioux Falls on May 2nd and 3rd and a JV invite in Sturgis on Tuesday May 6th.
Read the full issue of the Belle Fourche Beacon by clicking here.
