Bulldog Relays Place at State A Track Meet

Two Bulldog relays secured a top eight finish at the State Class A track and field meet in Tea and Sioux Falls this past weekend.

The boys 1,600 meter relay team secured a fourth place finish with a time of 3:31.68, which earned them the eighth place spot on the Milbank varsity honor roll. Team members were Derrick Aho, Caden Bjordahl, Jonny Ash and Cole Dockter.

The boys 800 meter relay team of Riley Gauer, Ash, Aho and Cole Dockter captured seventh place with a time of 1:34.05.

“Overall, I was very proud of how all the athletes performed and competed at the state meet,” expressed Bulldog head track coach Eric Townsend. “Both teams were hampered at the end of the season with major injuries which hurt their chances to score more points in the meet. However, the efforts and performances of those that did compete were outstanding.”

Jake Anderson and Matt Lenards were unable to compete on the boys side while Taylor Thue had to sit out during the meet. All were because of late season injuries.

Many locals were just outside of the medal podium, but not for lack of effort. “The 22 athletes that attended the state meet represented the Milbank Area track and field team and the town of Milbank very well,” noted Townsend. “The state meet was a great way to send the 2017 season.”

Following are the complete results for the Milbank athletes:

Girls Division

100 meter hurdles – Sophia Seffrood, :16.99 (13th place).

Pole vault – Greta Snaza, 7-6 (16th place).

Triple jump – Molly Rick, 33.0.75 (14th place).

3,200 meter relay – Milbank (Gabbi Cummins, Madi Thue, Jatana Grajczyk, Danica Schulte), 10:32.13 (11th place).

800 meter relay – Milbank (Tracy Pillatzki, Elisabeth Schwenn, Mackayla Schuelke, Danica Schulte), 1:52.65 (10th place).

1,600 meter medley relay – Milbank (Tracy Pillatzki, Mackayla Schuelke, Elisabeth Schwenn, Danica Schulte), 4:41.43 (24th place).

1,600 meter relay – Milbank (Elisabeth Schwenn, Danica Schulte, Madi Thue, Jatana Grajczyk), 4:22.67 (13th place).

Boys Division

400 meter dash – Cole Dockter, :52.52 (9th place).

3,200 meter run – Nick Batchelor, 10:53.78 (21st place).

Long jump – Cody Dockter, 20-6 (13th place); Jonny Ash, 20-0.25 (16th place).

Triple jump – Jonny Ash, 39-10 (13th place).

High jump – Cody Dockter, no height.

800 meter relay – Milbank (Riley Gauer, Jonny Ash, Derrick Aho, Cole Dockter), 1:33.85 (prelims), 1:34.05 (finals) – 7th place.

400 meter relay – Milbank (Riley Gauer, Derrick Aho, Riley Wollschlager, Cole Dockter), :45.34 (12th place).

1,600 meter medley relay – Milbank (Riley Gauer, Cody Dockter, Derrick Aho, Caden Bjordahl), 4:00.53 (21st place).

1,600 meter relay – Milbank (Derrick Aho, Caden Bjordahl, Jonny Ash, Cole Dockter), 3:39.40 (prelims), 3:31.68 (finals) – 4th place.

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Public Broadcasting.