For a dual that wasn’t even on the schedule a week ago, Aberdeen Central made the most of its opportunities during its first home action of the season on Monday.

The Golden Eagles hosted Watertown in a dual at Brownell Activities Complex after Watertown’s Watoma Relays were canceled last Friday.

“It was good day. Our kids get to compete,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley. “Watertown and us have a friendly rivalry. We get along pretty well with their staff, so that’s always fun.”

The most impressive mark on the day occurred in the discus where Central’s Taryn Nieman unleashed a throw of 127 feet, 8 and 3/4 inches, second best in Class AA this season. The throw topped her previous personal best by more than five feet.

Nieman had a toss of 117 in the prelims, before her first attempt in the finals went 10 feet farther.

“I just had to keep my adrenaline going,” Nieman said. “I was watching some film and realized I had to look back a little bit longer. So when I looked back a little bit longer, it let me release it different.”

Nieman, who was one of the state’s top throwers in the javelin last season, is no longer able to compete in that event because of multiple stress fractures in her foot.

“I have six stress fractures in my left foot, so it kind of hurts a lot when I do jav,” Nieman said. “I decided to focus on disc and shot this year, so jav is out of the picture.”

David Van Veen also had a big day for Central. The senior won three events, including clocking the sixth best time in AA in the 3,200-meter run in 9:51.54. Van Veen also won the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs. He said his favorite is the 1,600.

“Just seeing how fast you can go for one mile, I think that’s kind of special,” Van Veen said.

He said he tries not to think about the conditions, but that was tough to do with Monday’s strong windy conditions.

“I could definitely feel it lap three, I think,” Van Veen said. “I felt it pretty hard.”

Van Veen’s father, Jeremy, was a standout runner and is a big reason why David got started. When asked if he had beaten any of his dad’s times, the younger Van Veen responded, “I know for a fact I beat his 16 time.”

Tyler Bain and Brendan Phillips went first and second in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches, tied for third best in AA.

Jett Carlson also had a top-10 mark during the meet, winning the javelin with Class AA’s eighth-best mark at 152 feet, 7 and 3/4 inches.

Kyson Fayant was a double open event winner for Central, winning both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

He said the 110s require a combination of speed and technique.

“Speed helps a lot, but technique really helps,” Fayant said, “because if you don’t get it right you’ll probably land wrong, and speed will probably affect it as well.”

When asked about the two races, Fayant said, “The 300 is way more tiring. I think it’s harder than the 110 hurdles.”

Yet his favorite between the two?

“I like the 300s better. … It shows me what I need to work on,” Fayant said.

Ciara Frank was also a part of two wins, although not in her typical fashion. The senior and teammate Madison Hochstetter tied for first in the high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches, before Frank found herself battling a Watertown foe during the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay.

Frank was a last-minute substitute in the event and usually doesn’t run the 100 in a relay.

“We had someone get hurt over the weekend,” Frank said, “so I had to fill in for her.”

Frank was able to outsprint her opponent to the finish line to record the victory.

“I could kind of see her in my peripheral vision,” Frank said, “but I just tried to push and keep going.”

It was Central’s first organized competition on its new track that was resurfaced last summer.

“It’s super bouncy, more grippy,” Frank said. “I like it a lot.”

Frank’s willingness to jump in as a replacement is a nice luxury to have for the Eagles.

“She was a last-second fill in. She is what she is,” said Central girls’ coach Jim Appl. “I’m so glad she’s with us and no one else. We have a lot kids like that who are willing to do it. There was 5-6 kids I could have asked and they would have all jumped in there and did it in a heartbeat.”

Appl was pleased with his team’s effort on the day and credited Central athletic director Dawn Seiler for putting the meet together.

“First of all and foremost thank you to Coach Seiler for getting this done,” Appl said. “Without her making this possible, none of these kids would have a chance to compete.”

Central girls dominated the hurdles on the day, which a strength for the Eagles.

“We went 1-2-3 in the (100-meter) hurdles and all of them are ranked in the top six in the state,” Appl said, “and that’s exactly where we want to be.”

Mya Arampatzis clocked the sixth best time in AA and Hochstetter the seventh best time in that hurdle race, while Breckan Santjer’s height in the pole vault ranks seventh in AA.

Central will host the Al Sahli Invitational on Friday.

Both coaches said the Eagles are making strides as the season goes on.

“Our kids are getting better and our coaches are working hard to make kids better,” Murley said, “so it’s a good thing.”

Appl also noticed that his members are improving from week to week.

“We’re a work in progress,” Appl said, “and we’re progressing in the right direction.”

To see complete meet results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/554815/results/all