IPSWICH – One streak continued and another ended Tuesday at the Lake Region Conference track and field meet.

The Ipswich boys won their seventh consecutive LRC championship, while the Warner girls’ claimed their first LRC crown since 1996. Ipswich had won every girls’ conference championship since joining the LRC in 2006. The Tigers finished three and half points behind Warner in the team standings.

Despite cold, windy and sometimes wet conditions, athletes thrived with record-setting performances in a variety of events.

Ella Boekelheide, a multiple state champion, ended up breaking a conference record belonging to former Ipswich standout Macy Heinz in the 1,600-meter run in a time of 5:06.86. The fact that the record belonged to one of the state’s all-time greats made the accomplishment even more meaningful.

“I remember her name. It gets brought up a lot. My family is a running family so we obviously talked about running a lot, so I heard her name a lot,” Boekelheide said. “I remember being younger and really looking up to her, so it’s really cool having this happen.”

Boekleheide broke the record despite not having anyone to push her in the race.

Last weekend at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays, Boekelheide ran stellar times even though she was not among the top runners in her events.

“It’s definitely a different mindset,” Boekelheide said. “In Howard Wood I kind of had a different game plan, working my way up, but here I kind of have to switch that, and really focus and lock in the whole entire time, because it’s me against myself out there.”

The sophomore, who also won the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run, said she would rather run next to other competitors.

“I think it’s more fun to run with people,” Boekelheide said. “It’s easier to push yourself when there’s people around you. It just makes the atmosphere so much more fun.”

While one Heinz record was erased, another Heinz record was improved upon.

Trevor Heinz, Macy’s brother, broke his own record on the way to winning the long jump. The senior jumped a distance of 22 feet, 6 and a half inches.

“I know that I’m capable of that and more,” Heinz said, “so, it’s about executing.”

Heinz later edged teammate Kyle Hettich by an eyelash at the finish of the 100-meter dash.

“I think I just outleaned him,” Heinz said. “I think he leaned a little too early and I timed it better. It was as close as it gets.”

Heinz and some of his teammates then ran the 400-meter dash to try and improve in other events for the future.

“We’re in our last phase (of training), so just really focused on blasting the first 200 and whatever you’ve got at the end,” Heinz said. “And that 150 left into the headwind was not very fun, but we got better, got stronger, help us finish our 4X2s and stuff like that.”

The Tigers tied for the Class B state championship last year and are gearing up for another strong run.

Heinz said it’s just a matter of putting in the work between now and the state meet in just more than two weeks.

“Just practice, coming back to work with your lunch pail every day,” Heinz said. “Coming to practice, working hard, working together and getting better every day. We don’t just run the 400s for fun, we run them to get better.”

It was a big day for Faulkton’s Spencer Melius who threw a personal best distance in the javelin and then topped the field in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

Melius launched the javelin 170 feet, easily the best mark in the state for Class B throwers this season.

“I’m kind of a one-shot wonder in the javelin,” Melius said, “give or take the day, the throw.”

The sophomore then got out in front and fought through the wind on the front stretch to maintain it in the hurdles victory.

“You can’t even feel your legs when coming down there, especially today with that wind pounding you,” Melius said. “It’s hard because you can’t look down like regular events, because you’ve got to jump the hurdles.”

He said getting over the final hurdle is a challenge, but the reward is worth it.

“You’re dizzy during that one and it’s not a fun one to get over,” Melius said, “but once you’re over, you’re like, oh we’re done.”

North Central’s Lindsey Geier also had a big impact on the meet. The sophomore from Bowdle broke the meet record in winning the triple jump at 34 feet, 3 and three-quarter inches. She also finished second in the long jump, and ran a blistering second leg on the winning 800-meter meter relay squad.

When asked what her favorite event is, Geier responded, “Probably triple jump. I feel like I’m best at it and it’s fun.”

Geier had a solid role model growing up, following in the footsteps of her sister, Krystal.

“I’d say I learned most of it from her,” Geier said.

Geier talked about the difference between an open event and running on a relay.

“Jumping is basically me,” she said. “In a relay I have my other teammates to help us get the best time.”

Geier’s leg on the 800 relay happened to be into the wind. She said it didn’t impact her strategy.

“I kind of start out the same,” Geier said, “I just get tired a lot easier.”

There were numerous other notable performances as well, including Northwestern’s Ty Boekelheide breaking the LRC meet record in the triple jump with a distance of 42 feet, 10 and a half inches.

Sofia Losure of Frederick won the high jump, 300 hurdles and ran on a winning relay.

Others who won two open events included Lincoln Woodring of Northwestern in the 800 and 1,600, Leola’s Dustin Wurtz in the shot put and discus, and Faulkton’s Savanna Hayes in the discus and javelin.

Aberdeen Christian athletes had big days in the field events.

“Jumps started the day off. Just really fun to see the kids, it’s 50 degrees and windy and spitting and then the kids just come up and jump crazy,” said Knights coach Sam Bjorkman. “Everyone of our boys PR’d in triple jump, I think. A bunch of PR’s in the long jump on the boys’ side.”

Dylan Hofer once again led the Christian delegation in the triple jump with a second-place finish.

“Dylan went another almost foot and a half farther in the triple jump today,” Bjorkman said, “and all three of his jumps in the prelims were the best three jumps he’s ever had.”

On the girls’ side, the Knights won the 400-meter relay, and also had a big day in the long jump, claiming three of the top four spots.

Ali Isakson went 15 feet, 9 inches in the long jump.

“She had her three best jumps ever today in finals” Bjorkman said.

Christian standout sprinter Shawnteah La Croix long jumped for the first time this season and ended up winning the event with a leap of 16 feet, 3 inches. Teammate Maggie Fites took fourth.

La Croix also won the 100-meter dash and ran on the winning 400-meter relay squad.

“Just so fun to see the kids come out and just push through the weather,” Bjorkman said.

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

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/550244/results/all