The sky is literally the limit as track and field athletes are getting used to a new event.

The javelin was introduced last season for Class AA athletes and is now an exhibition event for Class A and Class B schools.

Some teams seem to be ahead of the learning curve when it comes to the javelin. One of those is Hamlin, which has a pair of athletes among the Class A state leaders.

Chargers coach Dan Poppen is not about to take too much credit for that, however.

“I’m kind of learning myself,” Poppen said of the new event.

He has tapped into whatever resources he can find about the javelin.

“I’ve been You-Tubing a lot of this stuff and just kind of finding things,” Poppen said.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a pair of gifted athletes who are willing to give it a try. Kami Wadsworth has the top throw for Class A girls (128-feet, 11-inches), while Cristhian Rodriguez is sixth in boys. Both are accomplished throwers in shot put and discus.

“I have some pretty good athletes that kind of pick it up pretty easy,” Poppen said.

He said there are certain characteristics that carry over from one throw to the next, which has definitely helped.

“When they go into their block stage once they get to the end and they block, it’s kind of the same thing as what you’re doing with the shot and discus,” Poppen said.

A recent meet in Milbank featured a squad from North Dakota, which has had javelin as an event for decades. Poppen not only videotaped one of its top throwers, but also asked for some guidance from the boy’s coach.

“He came over and said, ‘Kami you have a really great start and Cristhian. You just have to remember to keep everything in a line and that arm all the way back.’ Our kids were kind of getting it off to the side a little bit,” Poppen said. “He gave us a few pointers.”

Poppen said that technique is a key element when it comes to throwing a javelin.

“It’s a technique sport,” he said. “You don’t have to be really big and strong necessarily like a lot of times in the shot and discus.”

What makes a good javelin thrower?

“A lot of that is athleticism,” Poppen said, “and just getting down the runway and keeping everything in a straight line.”

South Dakota is one of 14 states that currently has the javelin. While it is not currently a part of the state meet for the smaller schools, there will be an unofficial state competition in the event on Monday, May 15 in Canton.

Time will tell if the javelin becomes an event at the state meet for the smaller schools, but the Chargers will be ready when the time comes.

“Hopefully, it does,” Poppen said, “because I have a lot of kids that are very interested in it and had have success, so I hope it does.”

LEADING THE WAY

Josiah Adams of Sioux Falls Christian continues to set the pace among individual leaders, topping four open events. He has the top times in the 110-meter high hurdles, 300-meter intermediate hurdles, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash in Class A.

There are three new members to the triple-leader ranks this week. Berkeley Engelland of Mount Vernon-Plankinton now leads the Class A 200, 400 and 800. Ashton Massey of Menno now leads the Class B hurdles races and triple jump, while Canistota’s Josiah Schroeder tops the Class B in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Rapid City Stevens distance ace Simeon Birnbaum continues to lead Class AA in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

There are a dozen athletes who lead two open events, including Aberdeen Central’s Ciara Frank in the Class AA high jump and long jump, and Hamlin’s Gracelyn Leiseth in the Class A shot put and discus.

BY THE NUMBERS

Sioux Falls Christian still has a firm grip atop the Class A boys for team leaders, setting the standard in 10 events.

Other team leaders include Rapid City Stevens in Class AA boys (five events), O’Gorman and Rapid City Stevens in Class AA girls (four events each), Sioux Falls Christian and Mount Vernon-Plankinton in Class A girls (five events each), Canistota and Viborg-Hurley in Class B boys (four events each), and Colman-Egan in Class B girls (six events).