SDSU indoor meet allows for Blue Dragons to compete
by Raegen Altman, GHS Blue Ink
When we think of spring, we think of being outside and the nice weather. Golf and track are the two biggest activities that our athletes look forward to in the spring. But because of the brutal winter that South Dakota has received this year, it seems like it may be a struggle to get meets going.
Garretson track started practice on March 20, and have not been able to utilize the track as it is covered in snow, so their practices have consisted of running on the pavement around the school area, and being inside when temperatures are too cool.
The first track meet of the year was supposed to be Tuesday, April 4, but because tracks are still covered in snow, that has been postponed. After some conversations, Coach Bohl and Coach Howe were able to get the track team into the Scott Underwood Indoor Meet at South Dakota State University.
As there were 45 teams competing, Garretson only brought a total of 13 athletes.
The boys started off strong as they competed in the 4x800 meter relay. Preston Bohl, Sam Schleuter, Carter Siemonsma, and Collin Olson ran a combined time of 9 minutes and 22 seconds putting them in 8th place out of 23.
The girls 100-meter dash had two Garretson runners, Raegen Altman and Jordyn Williams. Jordyn Williams finished in 19th place and Raegen Altman in 30th place out of a total of 109 girl runners.
Ava Ockenga, Garretson’s only girl distance runner that went to the meet ran the two mile and finished with a time of 7 minutes and 2 seconds.
Joshua Gilbert ran the mile on the boys side of things and ran a time of 5 minutes and 33 seconds.
The girls ran the 4x100 meter relay. Raegen Altman, Logan Bly, Jordyn Williams, and Alyssa Olson ran a time of 55.53 seconds giving them a placing of 20 out of 38.
The Blue Dragons had 4 total runners in the 400 meter dash, Alyssa Olson (1.16.16), Ramsey Schweitzer (57.37), Sam Schleuter (57.45), and Collin Olson (59.01).
The 800 meter dash was run by Ockenga (3.06.54) for the girls, while Siemonsma (2.19.09) finishing 25 out of 87 and Gilbert (2.27.22) finishing 50 out of 87, ran for the boys.
The 200 meter dash consisted of a total of 213 athletes (109 girls, 104 boys). Jordyn Williams (28.7) finished 17th overall. Ramsey Schweitzer ran a time of 25.94.
The 2 mile run was run by Preston Bohl (10.36.07), finishing in 5th place out of 28.
Both the boys and girls competed in the 4x400 meter relay. Jordyn Williams (70), Raegen Altman (69), Logan Bly (75), and Alyssa Olson (79) ran a combined time of 4.52.71. On the boys side, Sam Schleuter, Collin Olson, Carter Siemonsma, and Ramsey Schweitzer ran for a combined time of 3.58.69.
Bly participated in the high jump and placed 24th out of 37, jumping 4’4.
Sophomores Cortney Rogich (25’5 ½) and Ashley Harris (24’2 ¼) threw the shot put.
The Blue Dragons are extremely glad to have been able to participate in this meet, and hope to run again on Thursday, April 13 in Lennox.
