A deep field of Class A and B athletes delivered standout performances Thursday at the annual Track‑O‑Rama, with multiple West River programs posting some of their best marks of the season.
Sturgis Brown dominated the sprints and mid‑distance events on the boys side. Seth Burton won the 400 meters in a personal‑best 50.86, followed closely by teammate Jude Legner in second. Hill City’s Tate Grabow continued his strong spring with victories in both the 800 (1:58.77) and 1600 (4:23.34), while Philip’s Baylor Burns claimed the 3200 in 9:55.82.
In the boys sprints, Hill City’s Nick Schroeder placed fourth in the 100 meters (11.39), and Sturgis Brown’s Mason Venjohn led local finishers in the 200 with a 10th‑place 24.34. Sturgis also won the 4×400 relay in 3:30.43 and took second in the 4×200.
Field events saw big throws from Spearfish senior Sam Marcus, who placed top‑six in all three disciplines — fifth in shot put (46‑08.50), sixth in discus (137‑03), and second in javelin (166‑02). Wall’s Dawson Handcock delivered one of the day’s top marks with a winning long jump of 22‑06.
On the girls side, Hot Springs standout Ashlynn Elshere stole the show with a blazing 58.49 to win the 400 meters. Sturgis Brown eighth‑grader Kaylie Theberge impressed again, finishing second in the 200 and fifth in the 100. Bennett County’s Peyson O’Neill swept the hurdles spotlight, taking second in the 100 hurdles and winning the 300 hurdles in 46.15.
Spearfish had a strong day in the relays, winning the girls 4×800 in 9:17.09 and the sprint medley relay in 4:10.42. Custer’s Tenlee Stiefel cleared 12‑06 to win the girls pole vault, while teammate Karyn Ellerton swept the throws with victories in both shot put (38‑01) and discus (123‑07).
The meet featured more than a dozen schools and served as a key mid‑season measuring stick as teams prepare for the stretch run toward conference and region championships.
