JVC captures 281 Conference track titles

HURON — James Valley Christian recorded the sweep, winning both the boys’ and girls’ team titles on Tuesday during the 281 Conference Track and Field Meet at Tiger Stadiums.
JVC held off Wolsey-Wessington to defend its title in the boys’ division and prevented Wolsey-Wessington from defending its title in the girls’ division.
“We feel blessed to come out on top of two team races that I thought would be closer than they were a year ago,” JVC coach Jory Wipf said. “In both cases we finished the meet well with lots of points in the two-mile run and good performances in the mile relay.
“Like most teams, we had events that didn’t go like we hoped and others that were surprising,” he said. “Over the course of the day we had some athletes turn in their best performances of the season, and some who struggled and just had to fight through. We asked some kids to do some hard things, and I am proud of how we competed.”
The Vikings finished with 197 points to claim the title in the boys’ division with an 11-point winning margin over Wolsey-Wessington. Sanborn Central-Woonsocket was third at 95, followed by Sunshine Bible Academy at 67, Iroquois at 48, Hitchcock-Tulare at 45, Wessington Springs at 33 and Highmore-Harrold at 21.
Winning individual titles for the James Valley Christian boys were Karlus Waldner in the 110-meter hurdles; Eric Hasart in the 400; Kedric Brantner in the 3,200  and Darrian Hood in the triple jump.
Darian Ogunjuemilusi of Wolsey-Wessington was selected as the boys’ MVP of the meet. He won the 100, 200, long jump and high jump for the Blackhawks.
Tyler Babcock won the shot put for Wolsey-Wessington, while teammate Jaron Waters won the discus. The Warbirds also recorded wins in the 400 and 800 relay events.

Jace Burma won the 800 and 1,600 races for Sunshine Bible Academy. The Crusaders also inked wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.
Spens Schlicht of Sanborn Central-Woonsocket won the 300 hurdles, while the Blackhawks claimed a win in the medley relay.  
In the girls’ competition, James Valley Christian won six events en route to a final team score of 175. Wolsey-Wessington was just 10.5 points back in second with 164.5.
Sanborn Central-Woonsocket was third at 110, followed by Sunshine Bible Academy at 86, Hitchcock-Tulare at 83.5, Highmore-Harrold at 30 and Iroquois at 21.
Alaina Dale won individual titles in the 100 hurdles and 100 for the Lady Vikings, while Sam Dowling was first in the 1,600 and Maddie Brantner was first in the 3,200.
The Lady Vikings also won the girls’ 400 and 3,200 relay events.
Myah Selland of Sanborn Central-Woonsocket was the girls’ MVP of the meet. She won titles in the 300 hurdles, 800, triple jump and high jump.
Kailen Krause and Taylor Sprecher each won a pair of titles for Wolsey-Wessington. Krause claimed the top spot in the 200 and long jump, while Sprecher won the shot put and discus events.
Caycee Guinn of Sanborn Central-Woonsocket won the 400 dash, while the Lady Blackhawks claimed victories in the medley and 800 relays.
Sunshine Bible Academy won the 1,600 relay.