SIOUX FALLS – It wasn’t quite the Lake Region Conference Invitational, but it wasn’t far off during the Class B State Track and Field Meet Friday at Howard Wood Field.

LRC athletes racked up four individual state championships on the day, two by Northwestern and two by Ipswich.

Northwestern swept the 800-meter runs, while Ipswich swept the pole vaults.

Ella Boekelheide set the tone early and ran away from the field on the way to her victory.

“I just really tried to focus in, start to finish, 100 percent, and run my race,” Boekelheide said.

Boekelheide did not compete in the 3,200-meter run earlier in the day, instead deciding to focus on the 800-meter and 1,600-meter run.

“It was more like I really wanted to focus, hone in on the 800 and mile,” Boekelheide said. “I’m more training for the mid-distance and I didn’t know how my body would do with that two-mile, at state running with such big competition.”

The sophomore said she always goes all out whether she is running next to someone or by herself. She didn’t know if anyone was coming up behind her.

“I didn’t really know where anyone was at,” Boekelheide said. “I tried to look up at the big screen and try to see where I was, but I just gave it my all.”

Moments later, Northwestern senior Lincoln Woodring dominated the boys’ 800-meter run, leading from start to finish.

“I had really good competition out there to help push me, but all glory to God, he gave me an opportunity to run here,” Woodring said. “It was kind of a goal I had coming in is just to win the 800. That was my main goal, so I’m really happy I got it done.”

Woodring was highly motivated after finishing second in the event last season.

“Ever since I got second last year, I knew coming into this year, that was my ultimate goal, win the open 800,” Woodring said. “That was my big goal coming in, and I’m so happy and grateful that I could do it.”

Ipswich received state championships from Rasmus Loken and Jalyssa Hutson in the pole vault.

Loken, who finished third in the event last year, was able to finish the job this time around.

“The adrenalin was pumping,” Loken said, “and I just wanted to get over the height, I guess.”

A big factor for Loken was learning how to get inverted so he was able to clear more heights.

“I figured out how to vault this year,” the junior said. “I got upside down and figured it out.”

He said a big challenge is the mentality of trusting yourself to be in a vulnerable position.

“I’d say that’s the toughest part,” Loken said. “Once you figure that out, then you’re vaulting.”

He said there is only so much you can do in the vault without being able to bend the pole.

“Last year, I couldn’t get over 12,” Loken said. “Right about there is when you need to get inverted.”

Hutson, a freshman, tied a school record in winning the girls’ pole vault.

“I tied the school record for 10-8,” Hutson said. “I was looking to beat it, but it’s all right. Tying it works, too.”

Hutson edged teammate Marley Guthmiller for the state championship. Guthmiller won a state title three years ago.

Hutson said the two have a good, friendly competition.

“We both want to win,” Hutson said, “but at the same time, we’re going to be happy for the other one, whether whoever wins or not.”

Ipswich also had a strong showing in the 3,200-meter run as Madisyn Gellhaus finished in second place.

The race was won by Chester’s Emery Larson, who broke a record belonging to Melinda Zirbel from Summit. Larson lapped nearly all the runners in the field, but Gellhaus made sure she was not one of them.

“When I was going through, I could see Emery in front of me at first. I was like oh, she’s going there, so I kind of went on my own and it was just really a mental game for me,” Gellhaus said. “I kept on focusing on the girl in front of me, and then I saw that one girl who was in last and I was ‘OK, let’s go get her.’ And then I could hear Emery was 200 meters behind, and I was like she’s not getting me. Let’s go.”

The sophomore had a solid season for the Tigers this year.

“I started out the year with a PR in my mile. … That was like a big confidence boost right there,” Gellhaus said. “For the rest of the year I was more focusing on just keep on improving my own time.”

It was a lighter day for Aberdeen Christian, who qualified a relay and also in some sprint races on the day.

Shawnteah La Croix ran under 26 seconds for the first time in the 200-meter dash.

“(Saturday) is hopefully our day,” said Christian coach Sam Bjorkman.

The forecast calls for warmer weather than Friday’s cold and windy conditions.

“It should be a little bit warmer,” Bjorkman said, “which is good for sprinters.”

To see the Class B results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/545392/results/all