A couple of streaks were broken on Saturday by members of the fairer sex. On the track at Howard Wood in Sioux Falls the Rapid City Central Cobblers claimed their first ever Greater Dakota Conference crown in track and field.

It should be a fantastic girls AA meet this year with any one of about seven teams in the running. Here’s hoping for some good old Western South Dakota weather, you remember the kind, lots of sun, and hopefully no wind!  

On a bigger scale, like about 1-3/16th miles to be exact,  Rachel Alexandria won the Preakness in Baltimore to become the first filly in 85 years to win the race by holding off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length. 

It should make for some  interesting races in next couple of weeks.   

Kudos to both on their wins, it always a good thing to shake it up a bit.  Thanks for  keeping it real and good luck down the stretch.

-Lenn

What a shock it was to pick up the paper and read about Jack Tennyson’s passing.
As an eight-year old growing up in Rapid City, Jack Tennyson was it.
As kids we would pretend to be either him or John Dutton in the driveway shooting hoops or playing backyard football.
I told my 3rd-grade teacher Mrs. Naasz, (Howard’s wife) that when I grew up, I wanted to be Jack Tennyson.
Jack was all-everything on the football field, the track and the basketball court.
My older sister was a classmate, so I got to tag along to all the Cobbler games back then.
My folks took us to Sioux Falls to watch the Cobblers clean up the State A basketball tournament.
Dave Strain’s best team and one of the all-time great basketball teams in my mind.
Who can forget him firing softballs past hitters all over the surrounding area in later years. He was the Nolan Ryan of fast pitch softball.
Thank you for all the wonderful memories Jack, a Cobbler great for all-time.

-Lenn

Bonnie Richardson, a junior at Rochelle High School in Texas, won the state 1A (track title last weekend - all by herself. But while her Texas-sized feat would be nothing new in South Dakota (where one dominant athlete on a track and field team can come close to a state title), this is worth mentioning.
She was the only athlete from her school to qualify for the meet, and in Texas, girls are allowed to compete in five events (In South Dakota, only four). She did not win all five events. She won the high jump and 200 meters, placed second in the long jump and 100 meters and was third in the discus. She scored 42 team points to edge second-place Chilton, which had 36.
Several South Dakota athletes have put in almost singular efforts. Last year, Gayville-Volin’s Emma Erickson helped her team to a fourth-place finish in Class B with wins in three individual events, and she was the anchor of the winning 1,600 medley.
Where does the Texas girl’s accomplishment rank as far as sports accomplishments?

Megan Turner of Custer placed sixth in the Girls Class A Discus at Lennox Friday morning. Truner threw 118-04. Kellie Fiegen of Parkston won the event with a throw of 139-10.
Follwing are the results:

Girls Discus Throw Class A
Finals
1. Kellie Fiegen, Parkston, 139-10
2. Alyssa Henrichs, Beresford, 133-10
3. Kristin Rotert, McCook Central, 127-05
4. Catherine Anthony, Dakota Valley, 123-10
5. Holly Westley, Tri-Valley, 121–08
6. Megan Turner, Custer, 118-04
7. Dani Danburg, Miller, 115-01
8. Larissa Hansmeier, Webster, 115-01

 

 

 

It looks like the spring is going to bring another high-powered track season to the Hills. Obviously Stevens and Central are always team threats in the AA ranks, More’s girls are the defending Class A champs and there are individual talents everywhere. Sturgis’ Jessica Engel (top), Central’s Jasmyne King (2nd from top), Winner’s Chas DeMers, Takini’s Kiko Mendoza (third from top) and Spearfish’s D.J. Thompson (bottom) come immediately to mind for me.

Who’s a team, or athlete, that might really surprise this year?