Spearfish and Sturgis Brown turned in a series of standout performances at the latest South Dakota high school track and field meet, with both programs earning multiple event wins and top-five finishes across sprints, distance events, hurdles, and field competition.
Spearfish junior Thomas Hughes opened the day with a victory in the boys’ 100 meters, clocking 11.15 to take first place. Hughes later added another win in the long jump, reaching 21-11 for a personal best. Sturgis sprinters packed the top 10 behind him, led by Jude Legner in seventh at 11.64 and Seth Burton in ninth at 11.77.
In the boys’ 200 meters, Sturgis swept several top spots, with Legner finishing third in 23.93, Burton fifth in 24.12, and Cole Litzen seventh in 24.21. Spearfish senior Ben Muth delivered one of the meet’s strongest performances with a runner-up finish in the 400 meters at 52.74, a personal best.
Sturgis distance runners also excelled. Taylor Colunga placed second in the 1600 meters at 4:33.50, followed closely by teammate Quinn Bruch in third at 4:34.41. Spearfish freshman Mason Gill won the boys’ 3200 meters in 10:40.78, leading a strong showing from the Spartans.
In hurdles, Sturgis senior Jaxon Cano won the boys 300-meter hurdles in 42.96, adding a fourth-place finish in the 110 hurdles at 16.14.
Field events brought more top finishes. Sturgis thrower Miles Voigt placed third in the shot put at 47-03, while Spearfish’s Sam Marcus finished fourth at 44-00. Marcus later took second in the javelin with a throw of 170-07, just behind Sturgis senior Levi Brant, who won the event at 171-05.
On the girls’ side, Spearfish sprinter Daniela Rodriguez won the 200 meters in 26.44 and placed second in the 400 at 1:00.00. Sturgis eighth-grader Kaylie Theberge continued her breakout season with a runner-up finish in the 200 at 27.01 and third in the 100 at 13.00.
Spearfish junior Peyton VanDeest dominated the girls’ middle-distance events, winning the 400 in 59.33 and the 1600 in 4:59.35, both personal bests. Teammate Kori Keil added a win in the 800 meters at 2:24.49 and finished third in the 1600.
In field events, Spearfish vaulter Laila Ratzsch cleared 11-09 to win the girls’ pole vault, with teammate Reese Nida taking second at 11-03. Sturgis jumper Kynlee Stewart won the girls triple jump at 33-10.50, while Spearfish’s Daniela Rodriguez placed third in the long jump at 17-04.
Both programs return to action next week as the early-season schedule continues.
