SIOUX FALLS – A pair of Northeast Conference athletes captured titles during the Class A portion of the State Track and Field Meet Friday at Howard Wood Field, but took much different routes to claiming them.

Hamlin’s Gracelyn Leiseth led from start to finish in the discus, while Aberdeen Roncalli’s Jayden Munroe had to produce under pressure to grab the triple jump crown.

Munroe’s title capped a remarkable senior season.

“That was a pretty surreal moment,” Munroe said. “I’m proud of myself. I’m happy to get the win.”

Munroe was down to his final attempt after back-to-back scratches to start the competition, but came up big when it mattered most, leaping 45 feet, 1.5 inches. Munroe, who had the top mark entering the meet, said he could feel the pressure.

“I definitely felt it a lot going into it,” Munroe said. “After my first jump, even though I scratched, I realized I was good. My nerves kind of calmed down.”

He just had to make sure he got a mark on his final attempt to stay in the competition.

“I kind of didn’t attack the board as hard,” Munroe said of third jump. “I just chilled out.”

To compound matters, Munroe was also competing in the 200-meter dash prelims at the same time and had to run back and forth to the events.

“The 200 was kind of tiring,” Munroe said, “but it got me loose and I was able to get 45.”

The sequence provided for some tense moments for Roncalli coach Brady Lesnar, who was watching Beau Price compete in the pole vault while also trying to keep tabs on Munroe.

“We’re super excited for Jayden,” Lesnar said. “It was a little nerve wrecking. I was at pole vault following on my phone.”

He knew that Munroe was heading into his final attempt in prelims without having recorded a distance.

“He scratched the first two, but popped that third one which ended up being a new school record and gold medal jump,” Lesnar said. “And it was like holy smokes, I’m just glad he made a mark.”

Munroe, who will compete in the long jump today, has had an amazing journey from his days of growing up in the Bahamas.

“It’s crazy where life took me,” Munroe said, “but I’m happy, so it’s all good.”

Leiseth was a model of consistency on the way to defending her state title in the discus. Each of her recorded throws was more than 160 feet and she just missed hitting 170. Her winning throw was a meet record 169 feet, 11 inches.

“It’s awesome to end on one of my goals that I had for the season,” Leiseth said of wanting to be more consistent. “I was really happy with that.”

Leiseth, who will cap a phenomenal prep career today in the shot put, said it hit her during the discus that this is her last state meet.

“I definitely did think about that when I was walking up in the finals,” Leiseth said. “I was like, oh my goodness, this is my last finals in high school, but it’s a good moment to embrace.”

So was winning another state championship.

“It was an awesome experience,” she said, “and I was very glad I was able to do it.”

Munroe and Leiseth aren’t the only NEC athletes participating in their final state meet.

Webster’s Drew Reetz competed in the pole vault one last time, finishing in third place.

“I always wanted to get first, but I’m satisfied,” Reetz said. “I got on the podium, I tied my PR, so I’ll take it.”

It was an emotional time for Reetz and his vault coach Kevin Duenwald once the Webster standout concluded the competition.

“I’ll always remember my coach, a thousand percent,” Reetz said when asked what he will recall most about his days with the Bearcats. “He has always been my biggest supporter and after I got done with my third jump, he just kind of broke down a little and then I broke down, and he gave me a big hug. But I’ll definitely always remember him and his support.”

Milbank Area’s Jacy Dexter finished third in the girls’ pole vault. The freshman never envisioned being a vaulter when she was younger.

“It’s just different than any other thing,” Dexter said of the pole vault. “Most people ask me like, how do you do that? How are you not scared? And I’m like, it’s just so fun. You have to be a different breed.”

Dexter said she wasn’t always that breed, but has come to embrace the event.

“One of my friends, she was vaulting in seventh grade and she was like, Jacy you should try this out,” Dexter said. “And I’m like no, I would be awful at it. And I was so scared my first day, but then it just turned out to be good, I guess.”

Roncalli had a handful of boys’ events on the day and Lesnar was pleased with how his guys responded.

“Beau Price went 11-foot in the pole vault. He just about made 11-6 which would have been a PR for him,” Lesnar said. “I think he ended on a very good note, though. He’s come a long way this season.”

Lesnar also pointed out a couple of other performances.

“I thought Brody Weinmeister ran a nice race in the 300 hurdles,” Lesnar said, also noting that the 800-meter relay team ran its best time of the year.

“I’m satisified with what we did,” Lesnar said.

To see meet results, click on the following link:

https://results.dakotatiming.com/display.html?event_id=1245