BRITTON – Several track and field athletes claimed wins in multiple events at the Region 1B track and field meet in Britton on Thursday.

In team scoring, the Northwestern girls captured the team title with a score of 146, ahead of Warner (129). The Warner boys won the team title with a score of 123, ahead of Hitchcock- Tulare (106).

On the girls’ side, the Wildcats from Northwestern won seven events, with Ella Boekelheide leading the way with wins in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. Ashley Haven (400-meter dash), Ella Haven (triple jump), and Ana Ratigan (shot put) also won events, while the Wildcats also captured the 1,600-meter and sprint medley relays.

Warner picked up wins in four events, including a win in the 3,200-meter relay. Lauren Marcuson (100-meter hurdles), Stacia Carda (discus), and Cassidy Hardie (pole vault) also won events for the Monarchs.

For Aberdeen Christian, freshman Shawnteah La Croix had a hand in four wins, including winning the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. La Croix was also a part of the 400-meter and 800-meter relay victories for the Knights.

While she was nervous for some of the events, La Croix was also pleased with her performances.

“For the 100, I wasn’t really nervous and I didn’t eat too much food this time, so it went pretty smooth, except for I can work on my starts a little bit more. Those were a little shaky,” La Croix said. “Right after the 100, I had to walk over for the 4×2, and that was really tiring, but we got a school record. For the 4×1, we did pretty solid in that. And then my 200, I was just a little nervous, but I did pretty good for that.”

During the 4×2, La Croix had a bit of a mishandle when she received the handoff, but was able to gather herself and continue on toward the win.

“I always forget what hand I’m supposed to get it in because we were switching it so much this season so far, and so basically, I was trying to see which hand she had the baton in, and I couldn’t see it, so I just went for it, and we got it but it was not the best,” La Croix said.

Aberdeen Christian coach Sam Bjorkman was glad to see the Knights’ 4×2 relay come together at the end of the season.

“The 4×2 girls, in particular, we had injury and just some different things here and there, and so you switch up order and you switch up handoffs, and so it’s fun to see that come together,” Bjorkman said. “It was not a perfect race by any means, but they knocked over a second off their 4×2 time just by really kind of putting it together today. So that was good to see.”

La Croix has qualified for the state meet in four events, and admits she is overwhelmed for next week.

“I’m a little nervous because I qualified in four events and that’s a lot because we have to do prelims and finals for a lot of those,” La Croix said.

Frederick’s Sofia Losure captured wins in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and the high jump. Losure says she has been focusing on improving her personal bests during each track meet.

“I was really happy with the hurdles. That’s a season PR. I have my sights set on 50 (seconds). That’s a goal that I have. I’m closer to that today, so hopefully at state I can finally get that,” Losure said. “(The) high jump I’m happy I won. I would like to PR as a 4-11. I’ve had 4-11 as a goal for weeks, so I’m also hoping to get that at state. Today I got 4-9, so just keep moving up by little increments each time.”

Losure is looking to prepare herself for the state meet and improve on her efforts.

“We don’t have a track, so when I’m specializing in high jump and hurdles, it’s kind of tough when I can’t practice,” Losure said. “Recently, Ellendale (N.D.) has been super nice and they’re letting us go up and use their track. I’m excited to get some practice in.”

Losure is also excited to represent Frederick and looking forward to seeing her teammates compete at the state meet.

“I’m excited. Frederick has a lot of athletes going, so I think it’s gonna be a good time,” Losure said. “The girls have got three relays qualified, we have a whole bunch of open events, so I’m hoping we can make a good performance there.”

Other girls’ winners included Hitchcock-Tulare’s Avery Miles in the 800-meter dash and Britton-Hecla’s Sterling Mertens in the long jump.

On the boys’ side, Warner led with wins in five events, including Chays Mansfield in the pole vault. Logan Permann was a part of four wins for the Monarchs, winning the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, while also being a part of the 400-meter and 800-meter relay wins.

“I think I did good,” Permann said. “I PR’d in the 100 and 200. The 4×1 and 4×2 we could’ve done a little better, but overall, a pretty good day.”

Permann is optimistic about his team, as well as his individual events, at the state meet

“I’m optimistic for my times. I think I can do a little better,” Permann said. “4×1 and 4×2 we’re really hoping to pull something out.”

Northwestern and Frederick each won three events. Northwestern’s Lincoln Woodring won the 800 and 1,600-meter runs, while Josh Thorson added a win in the 400-meter dash. Frederick’s Milo Sumption won the 3,200-meter run, while the Titans also grabbed wins in the 1,600 and sprint medley relays.

Hitchcock-Tulare’s T.J. Salmen won both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

“I enjoy running hurdles,” Salmen said. “They weren’t my best times, but I was still happy with it. It was pretty close to my PR’s in both hurdles.”

Salmen expects to do well at the state meet next week.

“I’m hoping to get PR’s during both races,” he said. “Hoping to get first, too. That would be fun.”

Christian’s Abe Kretchman won the long jump and triple jump. Bjorkman was happy with how hard both Kretchman and La Croix have worked all season.

“They’ve been just super consistent and super strong all year,” Bjorkman said. “For me the bigger thing is Shawnteah ran her best 100 ever, so that’s great, and then just more repetitions for Abe in the jumps is really good. It’s sweet to see that pay off for both of them.”

Other boys’ winners included Leola’s Dustin Wurtz in the shot put and discus and Waverly-South Shore’s Zach Ries in the high jump, while Britton-Hecla won the 3,200-meter relay.

Overall, Bjorkman was pleased with all that his team accomplished.

“Great day. Got basically everything done we wanted to get done today,” Bjorkman said. “The kids came in with, honestly, a lot of pressure on them because we just needed to put a few relays together in the right way, and they really did well under pressure, so really thankful for that,” Bjorkman said.

Bjorkman is also excited to see the hard work pay dividends for the Knights as they prepare for the state meet in Sioux Falls.

“It should be fun. We’ll have a good time, and I think all the kids that had it in their sights, I think they went out and got it and I think they’re gonna go,” Bjorkman said. “It’s fun to see the hard work pay off.”

For complete results, click on the following link below:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/495454/results/all