The 101st Howard Wood Dakota Relays delivered unforgettable performances as Watertown and Aberdeen area athletes captured six event titles at South Dakota's longest-running track and field meet. Held May 1-2 in Sioux Falls, the competition showcased elite talent across multiple classifications.
Two athletes claimed individual glory for the region. Taryn Hermansen of Aberdeen Central dominated the girls' shot put with a winning throw of 47 feet, 5.75 inches, while Hadlee Holt of Iroquois-Lake Preston took top honors in the girls' discus at 153 feet, 1 inch.
The relay events proved especially fruitful for area teams, with four squads reaching the podium's top step. Sioux Valley's team of Mitchell Guthmiller, Hunter Steinhaus, Brady Hiltunen, and Carson Wosje swept two Class A boys' relays—the sprint medley (3:33.09) and the 1,600-meter relay (3:27.37).
Distance runners shone for Deubrook Area, as Josh Mitchell, Luke Jorenby, Charlie Olsen, and Jason Moberg won the Class B boys' 3,200-meter relay in 8:30.08. Ipswich's girls' 3,200-meter relay team—Kalynn Oban, Isabella Galbraith, Madisyn Gellhaus, and Marley Guthmiller—claimed their title in 9:57.63.
Watertown athletes delivered strong individual performances across multiple events. Charlie Whiting cleared 14 feet, 3 inches for third in the boys' pole vault, while Malia Kranz took third in the girls' discus at 139 feet, 7 inches. Dane Stark ran a swift 4:16.79 for seventh in the boys' 1,600-meter run, Elly Dingsor vaulted 11 feet, 3 inches for seventh in the girls' pole vault, and Shauna Evenson leaped 35 feet, 7.5 inches for eighth in the girls' triple jump.
The Arrows' girls' 400-meter relay team—Carighan Klatt, Anna Hirtz, Ashlynn Andrews, and Alayna Smith—finished sixth in Class AA with a time of 49.66 seconds. Whiting also teamed with Jerome Zebroski, Knox Bretsch, and Hudson Engels for seventh in the Unified 400-meter relay at 1:11.98.
Aberdeen Central continued their strong showing with Kyson Fayant taking second in the boys' 300-meter hurdles at 38.33 seconds. Jack Bertsch placed sixth in the discus at 160 feet, 6 inches, and Jaidyn Forsyth cleared 10 feet, 9 inches for eighth in the girls' pole vault. Fayant also anchored the Class AA boys' 400-meter relay team of Caden Forred, Carter Lust, and Karson Borge to seventh place at 43.55 seconds.
In special races on Friday, Oliver Fieber of Deuel finished fourth in the boys' 200-meter dash, while Ella Boekelheide of Northwestern placed fourth in a girls' special race.