The calendar may have read late March, but track and field athletes from across the region brought out the best in each other Tuesday during the NSU Open at the Barnett Center.

Track and field athletes from all three classes lined up next to each other and the competition was spirited.

Emma Schlachter of Potter County and Heidi Olson of Mobridge-Pollock renewed their running rivalry. While the two are pretty even as far as trading wins, it was Schlachter that finished first this time in the 800-meter run.

“I just tried to keep the inside and tried to not let her get inside in front of me,” Schlachter said of her battle with Olson. “I think that worked out.”

The loaded field of runners also included Aberdeen Central standout Juna Ramey.

“I talked to my dad and I told him I was nervous, and he said, just go run your own race,” Schlachter said. “And so I think that’s what I did and it worked out for me.”

Miller’s Alex Schumacher won the boys’ 800-meter run, also against a loaded field. The Augustana recruit said he does check out the field before he toes the line.

“Going into the race, I do look a little as to who’s in it,” Schumacher said, “but when it comes to running it, I’m just going to run my own race and try to work as hard as I can.”

Schumacher was able to hold of Aberdeen Central’s David VanVeen, before VanVeen turned the tables and finished ahead of Schumacher in the 1,600-meter run.

Schumacher said he isn’t overly concerned about times this early in the spring.

“Honestly, it’s so early in the season,” Schumacher said, “I try to just run as hard as I can and hopefully that placing will be up there, based on how hard I work.”

Speaking of hard work, nowhere was that on display more than in the boys’ 400-meter dash, where Central’s Grant Fritz topped the field. The senior, who plays center on the basketball team, is not a typical quarter miler.

“I know it’s maybe not the most fun event,” Fritz said, “but it’s where I can help my team the most and try and score for us.”

Fritz, who often battles players much taller than he is in basketball, uses that mental toughness to his advantage in the 400.

“You have to be able to push through with that last straightaway, that last curve,” Fritz said, “be able to catch a guy in front of you or keep him behind you.”

Hard work, both on the track and in the weight room, has translated to success for Fritz, according to Central boys’ coach Greg Murley.

“When Grant had the big game in basketball, I couldn’t help but to think to myself, that’s a kid who really, really deserves the recognition he gets,” Murley said, “because he works really hard and he’s done a lot of things to make himself a good athlete.”

The Central girls’ squad has a lot of good athletes, including Madison Hochstetter, who continues to have a stellar start to the season. After placing in three events at a meet in Brookings last weekend, Hochstetter won the 55-meter hurdles and the high jump on Tuesday.

“I’d have to say hurdles is my favorite,” Hochstetter said. “I’ve done it for so long. I like going over the hurdles. I think its fun.”

Hochstetter, who set a PR of 5-feet, 5-inches in the high jump, and her senior classmate Ciara Frank continue to push each other to make each other better.

“We definitely have really good high jumpers at Aberdeen Central. Me and CiCi, we both have the same PR now. I think it helps push each other during practices,” Hochstetter said. “It’s a healthy, friendly competition. We do hurdles together, so we’re always with each other. It’s really healthy competition, I think that’s what makes us as good as we are.”

While the Central girls won multiple events on the day, Golden Eagles girls’ coach Jim Appl was not too concerned about times, distances or placings.

“We’ve got a lot of girls who are competing really hard. That’s the one thing right now,” Appl said. “We had a couple of kids where things went wrong for them. … We said, we didn’t have practice yesterday, and it’s March 26. Do I care about March 26? They go, ‘no.’ I said what do I care about? (They said) that we competed hard. I said did you compete hard? They said ‘yes.’ I said OK, then we’re fine.”

Aberdeen Roncalli is starting to get its full track and field squad back as several basketball players competed on Tuesday.

Cavaliers coach Brady Lesnar liked what he saw out of his athletes in their final indoor competitoin.

“Lots of good things to see. Seeing the kids go out there and compete is the main thing,” Lesnar said. “Our first outdoor meet is April 9, so, we’ve got a little break and hopefully, we can get a little stronger.”

Aberdeen Christian also competed in the meet and had the rare opportunity of going head to head against some Class AA competition.

“Really good day. It’s fun to compete against Central here in town, just because we never get to see them,” said Knights coach Sam Bjorkman. “It’s a blast. A lot of the kids know each other, so that’s a lot of fun, and also so good to get more of regional feel for competition, in that you set your eyes a little higher, hopefully.”

Murley said that track and field is a sport that rewards hard work and exploits those who take shortcuts.

“You get what you get. Very few people in this sport don’t get what they deserve, good or bad,” Murley said. “Guys who hide out during the workouts and don’t do things, you’re going to get what you deserve and you’re going to kind of be humiliated, but if you work really hard, you’re going to get some good things.”

Central competes at Pierre on Tuesday and also at Huron on Friday, April 5.

To see complete results from the NSU Open, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/528191/results/all