SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central’s Gracie Rife was so surprised to win the Class AA 100-meter dash that she looked around to make sure it had actually happened at the state track and field meet Saturday at Howard Wood Field.

“That was the fastest run I’ve ever had in my whole life. … I did not think I just won that. I still don’t believe it,” Rife said.

When asked how she was able to win that race, the sophomore responded, “I have no idea. I do not know where that came from.”

Rife clocked a time of 12.41 seconds to win the race by three one-hundredths of a second.

While Rife had a hard time believing she won a state championship in the event, Central girls’ coach Jim Appl did not.

“It’s not unbelievable,” Appl said. “It’s a lot of hard work she’s put in.”

Appl said Rife worked hard during the off season and it showed.

“She took the winter and trained this year and it paid off,” Appl said.

Rife uses a combination of fast starts and strong finishes in her races, according to Appl.

“Her starts have been getting better throughout the year,” Appl said, “but she finishes so strong and upright when she’s going through, and finishes with a great lean.”

Rife seemed to get better as the year went on and saved her best for last.

“That’s kind of the thing to the training,” Appl said. “The training we do works on peaking the last three weeks and we’re not really interested in anything that happens before that.”

The Golden Eagles also received a fourth-place finish from Taryn Nieman in the discus.

Interestingly enough, Nieman only had one of her six throws that counted on the day, scratching five times.

“I was kind of just trying to give it my all and stay in the ring at the same time,” Nieman said, “but I fell out of the ring a couple of times.”

Still, Nieman was able to accomplish her goal on the day.

“My only goal for today was just to make it to finals,” Nieman said.

Appl was proud of the way that Nieman hung in to get a place in the discus.

“You get three throws and as long as you get one in, you get to the finals,” Appl said. “You get the right one in so thank goodness she got the right one in.”

Appl was not surprised by Nieman’s finish to her high school career.

“That’s what she does,” Appl said. “She’s a senior. She shows up and just competes.”

Aberdeen Central had a strong showing in the final event of the meet as the Golden Eagles finished fifth in the boys’ 1,600-meter relay.

“We really tried hard to get to where we are,” said Colby Dauwen. “We didn’t do a lot today. We really kept our legs. Other teams had other events going on, and we stayed cool and we were ready for the race.”

Dauwen ran the anchor leg and moved the squad up to its final placing. He talked about competing against the state’s elite runners on the final leg.

“It’s a cool environment,” the junior said, “just knowing that I’m one of those kids.”

Dauwen credited assistant coach Katie Anderson for helping the team to run its best at the right time.

“Coach Anderson, she really helped us peak,” Dauwen said. “She’s a really good coach at sprinting, distance, whatever.”

The relay team clocked a time of 3:25.74, one of the fastest in school history. Dauwen would like to break the record next year, but was happy with the team’s showing on Saturday.

“To know that we’re fifth in the state is really cool,” Dauwen said.

Grant Fritz made the most of his opportunity to compete for one final time. The Central senior had a personal record in the triple jump to wrap up his prep career.

“I got hurt about a month ago and this is my first time coming back,” Fritz said. “I haven’t really had much opportunity to practice, so I’m just happy to come back and be competitive.”

Fritz was pleased with how he did in his final competition, despite not making it to finals.

“I’m pretty happy with how it ended,” Fritz said. “I wasn’t expecting to make finals.”

When asked what he will remember most about his playing days with the Golden Eagles, Fritz talked about the relationships he’s developed with his friends.

But what about those in-traffic dunks in basketball?

“Can’t complain about the dunks,” Fritz said.

When asked how many dunks he had, Fritz paused, and said with an all-knowing smile, “I mean, I wasn’t really keeping track; like seven. That might be the exact number. I don’t know. It’s possible.”

Central boys’ coach Greg Murley was impressed with the work ethic of Fritz.

“Great kid; great individual. He’s a self-made athlete,” Murley said. “He was a kid who probably wasn’t going to get a bunch of playing time, went and got in the weight room, and made himself a really good athlete, really valuable.”

The meet was the final one for Central assistant coaches Brent Norberg and Kent Hansen, who are stepping down from their track and field coaching roles.

“I’d like to give a special thank you to Coach Norberg and Coach Hansen for all their years of dedication to Aberdeen in the jumps and in the pole vault … and all the state champions that they’ve had,” Appl said.

To see complete Class AA results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/545396/results/all