Whether battling other competitors, trying to outperform teammates, chasing a school record, or focusing on upcoming the outdoor season, athletes rose to the challenge Thursday during the Northern State Open indoor track and field meet at the Barnett Center.

Potter County’s Emma Schlachter topped a loaded field to win the girls’ 800-meter run. The junior said she just focuses on her own race,

“I try not to think about my competition,” Schlachter said. “I just think about myself and where I’m at.”

However, it had to feel satisfying to edge some Class AA Aberdeen Central runners including Juna Ramey, an outstanding runner in own right, who later won the 1,600-meter run.

“She is really good,” Schlachter said. “It was fun to compete with her today.”

And it was a battle to the finish as Schlachter edged Groton’s Faith Traphagen at the wire.

“It was a close race,” Schlachter said. “Towards the end it got really, really close.”

Schlachter is part of a team that won the Class B state championship in the 1,600-meter relay last season and also won that event on Thursday.

“We really love the 4X4,” Schlachter said. “That’s our favorite event, so we’ll be working on that this season.”

Schlachter said it is an enjoyable experience running with her teammates.

“We just go out and compete, and try our best, and we push each other in practice,” Schlachter said. “It’s always fun to run with each other and we make the most out of it, hanging out with each other.”

For Britton-Hecla’s Chaz Vietor the driving force is chasing after a school record in the high jump, held by former standout Brian Rabenberg.

From his nearly 6-foot-9 frame to his long legs, Vietor looks like a young Rabenberg, who is actually helping the freshman.

“This year Brian is helping us coach,” Vietor said, “so I’ve got a really good coach in Brian.”

Rabenberg set the bar pretty high, literally and figuratively back in the 80s, so Vietor has something to shoot for.

“I know that he has the school record,” Vietor said, “and that he jumped seven foot in college.”

Vietor was just trying to get his season off to a good start on Thursday, which included all of the little things that are big things in the high jump.

“I was just trying to see if my marking was good,” Vietor said, “and if my steps were good and I did all that today.”

And when you’re 6-9, those steps are a bit trickier than normal with longer legs than most.

“It helps a lot, but it’s also kind of a curse because you have to flip it over more,” Vietor said. “It helps when you get up in the air, but I’ve got to really improve on my form because I’m kind of finishing flat-footed, and it’s difficult because you want to take quick steps before you finish and it’s kind of hard to do that with long legs.”

McKenna Tietz of Groton is part of a strong delegation of hurdlers from her school. The sophomore beat her teammates across the finish line to win the 55-meter hurdles.

“We have like five or six of us all in hurdles. When they called our names for the finals of the 55s, we had three of the eight people from Groton,” Tietz said. “Whenever we do hurdles, it’s usually like bang, bang, bang. It’s very competitive with us.”

Tietz said she recently offered advice to a younger teammate.

So what happens if that girl happens to beat her?

“Then she beats me,” Tietz said. “Then I just got to beat her the next time.”

Tietz said the 55-hurdles offer a unique perspective, because the race is over very quickly.

“It’s a little more challenging. It’s over in less than eight seconds,” Tietz said. “You have to get over that first one and go.”

She said her favorite event is the 400-meter relay.

“I’d say the favorite is the 4X1,” Tietz said, “because I usually run the third leg and that’s the curve, and I like running the curves a lot, actually.”

Tietz who led Groton’s state runner-up soccer squad in scoring this past fall, said track pays dividends on the pitch as well.

“It definitely helps build my speed for soccer,” she said.

For Shane Henderson, track is about competition. The senior from Mobridge-Pollock who is headed to play football at South Dakota State this fall, loves to compete and he outraced his foes on the way to winning the 400-meter dash.

“The 400’s always a fun race,” Henderson said. “It’s fairly competitive.”

Henderson said he doesn’t think much about times this early in the season.

“You just go out and you run against the competition,” Henderson said. “The times come. … Always got to try and beat that guy in the lane next to you.”

And when you’re 6-foot-6 and can stride out, it’s easier to get a leg up on the competition.

However, running a 400 indoors is a bit different than doing it outdoors.

“You have to figure out meters-wise when to stride out and whatnot,” Henderson said.

The standout athlete would like cap his prep career by going to one final state meet.

“It would be cool to make it again, three years in a row now for me,” Henderson said. “I really want to make it in an individual event this year.”

Aberdeen Roncalli had a variety of athletes compete in the meet, led by Parker Grieben who won the 55-meter hurdles as well as the 200-meter dash.

Cavaliers coach Mark Stone said the meet is beneficial for the athletes to tell where they are at.

“The first meets of the season, whether indoor or outdoor, in terms of information, is as much for our young people, our athletes, as it is for us,” Stone said. “For example, if you competed in something today, besides the knowledge that we have as coaches, you’re also going home thinking, OK, well, here’s where I’m at right now. What can I do next or what do I need to do next or am I in a good place?”

Stone said the key is to make a fair comparison when looking at previous results.

“One of the challenges always is, we remind them now compare yourself to last year at this time. Don’t compare yourself to May. … Right now it’s a process. I just had a conversation with a couple of these guys who are not happy with their splits in the 4X4,” Stone said. “Well, are we really going to put all our eggs in the what’s-my-time basket or are we going to look at it and say, OK, maybe we’re a little smarter, maybe we’re a little better conditioned, maybe we’re a little tougher after today. If so, that’s really what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Aberdeen Christian also ran with a more complete squad Thursday than it did last week.

“Sprinters and jumpers had a solid day,” said Knights coach Sam Bjorkman, “good to have the boys back from basketball, and fun to see them jumping.”

Bjorkman also pointed out the efforts of the girls’ sprinters.

“Hope Ellyson PR’d in the 55, and a big PR in the 200 breaking 30,” Bjorkman said. “The girls sprint group is looking solid as a group of five of them, so we’re optimistic with that group.”

Shawnteah LaCroix led the sprinters by claiming wins in the 55-meter dash and the 200-meter dash.

The Knights also welcomed back their distance runners.

“Good to have our distance crew there after being unavailable for the first meet,” Bjorkman said. “Good to get them out and competing.”

To see complete results click on the following link:

https://live.herostiming.com/meets/42230