Athletes from across the state have their sights set on the state track and field meet in late May. The journeys start indoors during cold weather and end up culminating May 23-25 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

Between now and then there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way. This year marks the first season without regions, so keep an eye out for late-season last chance meets that have not been on schedules in the past.

Here is a look at some of the area athletes and teams to keep an eye on this season:

Ipswich will once again be in contention for the Class B boys’ championship this season. The Tigers finished in a tie with Gregory for the state crown last season and bring back several stellar athletes that could put them in a position to defend their title.

Senior Trevor Heinz will lead the Tigers this season after a runner-up finish in the long jump at the state meet. He is also a member of several relays, including the 400-meter, 800-meter, and Sprint Medley relays. Sophomore Kyle Hettich is also a returning member of the 400 and 800 relays. Maxwell Kulesa is a returning member of the Sprint Medley relay, and also runs on the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter relays, along with Casey Geditz. Rasmus Loken and Brody Davis will lead the Tigers in the pole vault. Loken placed third in the event last season, while Davis finished fifth.

Potter County returns a pair of state place winners in seniors Carter Luikens and Nicholas Schlachter. Luikens earned podium finishes in the 400 (fifth) and 800 (third), while Schlachter finished sixth in the 1,600, and fourth in 3,200. They are also returning members of the Battlers’ seventh-place squad in the Sprint Medley relay, along with fellow senior Sean Seurer.

Northwestern senior Lincoln Woodring earned a pair of individual podium finishes at last season’s state meet, placing second in the 800, and eighth in the 1,600, while just missing out in the 3,200, taking ninth. Woodring was also a member of the Wildcats’ Sprint Medley relay that also just missed out on a top-eight finish. Nathan Melius and Josh Thorson were also members of the relay and will be runners to watch for Northwestern.

Other area Class B boys’ athletes to watch include Moshe Richmond of Wolsey-Wessington, who finished seventh in the high jump, Hunter Cramer of Warner, who finished runner-up in the 110-meter high hurdles, Spencer Melius of Faulkton, who was sixth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, Leola’s Dustin Wurtz, who was second in the discus and sixth in the shot put, Hitchcock-Tulare’s Erik Salmen, who placed seventh in the discus, and Lane Tvedt of Castlewood, who finished fourth in the long jump.

In Class B girls, Potter County returns several runners that will be key contributors in the team’s success this season. Emma Schlachter returns after a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter run, while Dannika Kaup is back after finishing seventh in the 300-meter hurdles. Both are also members of several relays that placed at the state meet, including the 1,600-meter (third), 3,200-meter (second), and Sprint Medley (third). Other returning members include Jadyn Ahlemeier, Rayel Persoon, and Megan Seurer.

Northwestern sophomore Ella Boekelheide earned three runner-up finishes at last year’s state meet: the 800, 1,600, and 3,200. Boekelheide was also a member of the Wildcats’ fourth-place 3,200-meter relay team, along with returning members Payton Grandpre and Ashley Haven.

Frederick’s Sofi Losure returns after tying for sixth place in the high jump, while Morgan Sumption is back after just missing out on a pair of podium finishes in the 800 (11th) and 1,600 (ninth). Both were also a part of the Titans’ 3,200-meter relay team, which also just missed out on a top eight finish, taking ninth. Other returning members of that relay include Laura Sumption and Jillian Ellwein.

Ipswich returns a pair of top-three finishers in the pole vault in Jalyssa Hutson (second) and Marley Guthmiller (third).

Other returning place winners to watch include Highmore-Harrold’s Autumn Fallis in the 1,600-meter (fourth) and 3,200-meter (fourth), Stevie Wittler of Sully Buttes in the 100-meter dash (fifth) and 300-meter hurdles (sixth), Abigail Lee of Britton-Hecla in the long jump (fifth) and triple jump (fourth), Warner’s Kennadee Wagner in the 3,200-meter run (eighth), Castlewood’s Presley Knecht in the long jump (third), and Wolsey-Wessington’s Tatum Luce in the high jump (tied for third).

Other relay teams to watch include Castlewood in the 800-meter (fifth), Sunshine Bible in the 1,600-meter (sixth), and Wolsey-Wessington in the 3,200-meter (third).

In Class A boys, Milbank will return several key runners this spring. The Bulldogs should once again be strong in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter relays. Both placed at the state meet last season, including a runner-up finish in the 3,200. Milbank’s Payton Brown, who is a returning member of the 3,200 relay, finished 11th in the 3,200-meter run and could improve on that finish this season. Jayden Johnson returns after finishing seventh in the pole vault.

Miller returns the tandem of Alex Schumacher (sixth in the 800) and Pierce Baumberger (ninth in the 3,200), and both have the potential to finish higher this spring. Deuel also returns a pair of place winners in Oliver Fieber (fourth in 100-meter dash) and Robert Begalka (sixth in the discus), while Simon Fried of Mobridge-Pollock returns after a runner-up finish in the 300-meter hurdles.

Tri-State’s Kaleb Foltz earned a trio of podium finishes last season, placing fifth in the 400-meter dash, fourth in the 800-meter run, and sixth in the 1,600-meter run. Webster’s Matthew Mount earned a fifth-place finish in the shot put, while Hamlin’s Cristhian Rodriguez placed third in the discus. Great Plains Lutheran’s Lucas Johnson tied for fourth in the high jump.

Other area relay teams to watch include Groton in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter, Webster in the 800-meter, and Hamlin in the 1,600-meter.

In Class A girls, Great Plains Lutheran’s Halle Bauer returns after earning three podium finishes, taking eighth in the 800, sixth in the 1,600, and fifth in the 3,200. Bauer is also a member of the Panthers’ Sprint Medley relay that placed sixth at last year’s state meet.

Mobridge-Pollock’s Heidi Olson will look to move up after narrowly missing out on podium finishes in the 1,600-meter (10th) and 3,200-meter (ninth) runs. The Tigers also return everyone from their third place 1,600-meter and seventh place Sprint Medley relays.

Milbank returns a pair of place winners in the pole vault event, including Jacy Dexter (tied for third), and Maggie Kruger (seventh), while Siera Wenzl also placed seventh in the 400-meter dash.

Sisseton’s Chloe Langager returns after placing eighth in the shot put.

Note: Season previews for Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Roncalli, and Aberdeen Christian were published earlier.