Titans compete at 2022 State A Track and Field Meet

By Anne Homan

Ethan McKnelly earned a spot on the podium at the 2022 State A Meet, taking eighth place in the event after clearing 6’.

On May 26, 27 and 28 several Titans headed to Howard Wood in Sioux Falls to compete in the 2022 State A Track and Field Meet. The Titans had numerous athletes qualify and were able reach the awards stand competing against the best athletes in the State.

Earning a spot on the awards stand was the Titans’ Ethan McKnelly who has had a strong year competing in the high jump. At State, McKnelly jumped 6’ to earn eighth place in the boys’ event. Jeff Bouchee of Sanborn Central Woonsocket won the State Title, clearing 6’3”.

In the girls’ high jump, eighth grader Natalie Grass also made her way to the awards stand, clearing 4’10”. The State title went to Ashlyn Koupal of Wagner who cleared 5’7”. The Titans’ Katie Vasecka also competed in the event but was unable to medal.

Earning a medal in relay action were the 4x100 meter girls’ relay team of Payton Cuppy, Mya Neuhardt, Kendra Nielson, and Sami VanTol. The team clocked a time of 51.75 in the event to capture seventh place. The team from West Central won the team title with a time of 49.51.

While no other Titans were able to medal at State, the 4x800 meter relay team of Holden Jelen, Alex Kayser, Jack Campbell and Eric Munson ran a season-best time in the event with a time 8:55.18.

Jaycie Babb and Haidyn West both competed in the 800 meter run, and while they didn’t reach the awards stand Babb posted a new school record and personal best time of 2:27.75 in the event. West clocked a time of 2:33.75.

Aidan Hofer just missed the podium in the boys’ triple jump, finishing with the ninth best jump on a tie break, jumping 41’3”. This marked a new personal best. Hofer also competed in the long jump, jumping 19’3.25” at state, finishing with the 13th best jump.

In the 100 meter dash, Tea Area’s Mya Neuhardt and Sami Van Tol finished 13th and 16th respectively with times of 13.02 and 13.08, not enough to reach the finals. They both competed in the 200 meter dash as well, Van Tol clocking a 27.64 and Neuhardt a 27.94, not enough to reach the finals.

Tea Area’s sprint medley relay team also did not reach the finals, clocking in at a time of 4:31.45 in the prelims. Team members included Kendra Nielson, Payton Cuppy, West, and Babb.

Vasecka also missed medaling at State in the girls’ triple jump, finishing with the 12th best jump at 32’8”.

The girls’ 4x200 meter relay clocked a time of 1:50.38 in the event, not enough to reach finals. Team members included Neuhardt, Shealey Geelan, Cuppy, and Van Tol.

In the boys’ 400 meter dash prelims, Ryan Del Monaco crossed the finish line in 52.17, not enough to reach the finals.

The girls’ 4x400 meter relay team of Miah Weber, Geelan, Babb, and West competed in the 4x400 meters but didn’t reach the finals with their time of 4:23.39. The boys’ 4x400 were unable to reach the finals as well, coming short by two spots as they finished in tenth place with a time of 3:24.26. Team members include Nathan Babb, McKnelly, Munson, and Del Monaco.

The Titan’s Ean Minnaert was also unable to medal after clearing 11’6” in the pole vault.