Kernels have shining moments in return of Corn Palace Relays

Marcus Traxler, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·4 min read

Apr. 18—In the return of their signature home meet for the first time since 2017, the Mitchell High School track and field team had a number of standout performances at the Corn Palace Relays Saturday, April 17.

The Kernels racked up the event titles in the relays, paced by both 1,600-meter sprint medley relays. The girls team of Claire Hegg, Mia Mullenmeister, Adaya Plastow and Lizzie Tyler won in 4 minutes, 26.07 seconds, edging Sioux Falls Lincoln's foursome by less than three-tenths of a second. The boys sprint medley relay was won by Mitchell's Parker Phillips, Ryley Johansen, Carter Moller, and Jagger Tyler in a time of 3:51.72.

The boys 4x100-meter relay also was victorious, led by Carter Moller, Ryley Johansen, Treyson Schulz and Lukas Bennett, in a time of 44.69 seconds.

Mullenmeister, a freshman, won the open 400-meter dash in 1:02.07 in a field of 30 runners. She was also third in the open 200 (27.62), which was won by Lauren Merkley, of Sioux Falls Lincoln. Lizzie Tyler was third in the open 800 (2:29.10), with Aberdeen Central's Melanie Jacobs winning and Chamberlain's Kinsey Evans second.

No team points were kept, and a number of events were raced in two divisions: split by Class AA and Class A teams. The meet was held for the first time since 2017, after poor weather wiped out the 2018 and 2019 editions and 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19.

In the field events, Wagner's Jaden Peters stole the show. He easily won the event title in the boys open pole vault and cleared 15 feet, 2 inches, which now ranks him No. 8 in state history for the event. It is believed to be the Corn Palace Relays record, as well. No other South Dakota boy has gone higher than 14 feet this season and no other meet competitor did better than 11 feet on Saturday.

In the Class AA boys long jump, Mitchell had three top-5 finishes, led by sophomore Treyson Schultz, who had a second place finish with a jump of 19 feet, 10.5 inches. Johansen was third (19-3.75), while Lincoln Bates was fifth (19-0.5). Aberdeen Central's Sam Rohlfs won the event with a jump of 21-9.5, which ranks No. 3 among boys in all classes around the state. Johansen was also second in the open boys high jump at 5-10, with Lincoln's Carter Brost winning at 6 feet.

RESULTS: Top finishers from the Corn Palace relays

Chamberlain's Drayton Priebe won the Class A boys long jump at 20 feet, 9.25 inches, and Mitchell Christian's Nathanael Anderberg was second with a jump of 18 feet, 1.25 inches. Anderberg was also fourth in the open 800, behind victor Josh Martin, of Aberdeen Central. Gregory's Luke Sinclair was third.

In the Class A boys discus, Winner's Preston Norrid won the event by 12 feet with a throw of 140-10 and Chamberlain's Jackson Soulek was the winner in the Class A boys shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 6 inches. In the Class A boys triple jump, Ethan/Parkston's Riley Endres topped teammate Wyatt Sinkie for a 1-2 finish. Winner's Aaron Monk was second in the boys open 110 hurdles, as well.

In the Class A girls discus, Ethan/Parkston sophomore Emma Yost won the title by nearly 11 feet (107-4), with MVP freshman Katie Stange second. Winner's Jenaya Schrader won the shot put division with a throw of 33-3.5, while teammate Ellie Brozik won the Class A triple jump at 34 feet, 9 inches. She edged Ethan/Parkston's Allison Ziebart, who was first in the long jump (17-1.25) and second in the triple jump at 34-6.5. Ethan/Parkston junior Lindsay Roth (5:36.76) held off Gregory's Emma Thomas (5:40.38) for the Class A title in the mile run.

In the open girls high jump, Winner's Kelsey Sachtjen was second with a jump of 4-10, with Sioux Falls Lincoln's Nancy Peter winning at 5-2.