Bulldogs Set Records at Baltic — Head to State Meet This Weekend

”The Baltic Last Chance meet featured only eight teams but, in many events, had some of the best competitors in the state,” commented Eric Townsend, head coach for the Milbank track and field teams. Although the teams arrived from Sioux Falls Christian, Madison, West Central, Garretson, Baltic, Tri-Valley, and Dell Rapids, the Milbank athletes nailed some of their best performances of the season. Overall, there were 49 season-bests posted by the Milbank Bulldogs or Lady Bulldogs, which Townsend  called  “outstanding.”  As a team, the Bulldogs brought home second place and the Lady Bulldogs took third.

In the boys team standings: (1) Sioux Falls Christian – 187 points; (2) Milbank – 133; (3) West Central – 119; (4) Madison – 91; (5) Tri Valley – 85; (6) Baltic – 75; (7) Dell Rapids – 62; and  (8) Garretson – 25.

In the girls team standings: (1) Sioux Falls Christian – 249.5;  (2)Dell Rapids – 97; (3) Milbank -94; (4) West Central – 93; (5) Madison – 75.5; (6) Baltic – 68; (7) Tri Valley – 49;   and (8) Garretson – 37.

Individually, several Milbank athletes cracked the top-10 lists in MHS history.  Payton Brown improved his No. 3 overall time in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:25.44. James Batchelor moved up to No. 4 on the varsity honor roll in the 1600-meter run with his time of 4:26.48. Emmett Hanson moved up to No. 4 on the varsity honor roll in the 300-meter hurdles. He clocked in at 40.71. Bryan Meyer secured the No. 6 spot in the all-time top 10 in the 800-meter run. He finished at 1:59.27.

J. Batchelor also achieved a top-10 performance in the 800-meter run. He now sits  at No.7 with his  time of 2:00.24.  The 1600-meter relay team composed of Meyer, Hanson, Harley Zemlicka, and Brown ran the second-fastest time in school history at 3:28.24. Sam Rick moved up to No. 7 on the varsity honor roll in the pole vault with his vault of 12 feet and three inches.

Ashlynn Batchelor improved her time at No. 2  in the 1600-meter run by finishing at  5:15.80.  Zayda Townsend joined the honor roll at No. 7 of all time in the 400-meter dash with her time of 1:01.58.  The 1600-meter relay team – made up of  Avery Schuneman, Z. Townsend, Ella Koplin, and Siera Wenzl – ran the sixth- fastest race in that event in school history. They clocked in at  4:10.81.

What’s next?  The Bulldog track and field teams compete at State in Sioux Falls from May 23-25.  Milbank will be represented by 21 athletes:

BOYS (11):  James Batchelor, Payton Brown, Jayden Johnson, Emmett Hanson, Graham Lightfield, Bryan Meyer, Garrett Weber, Beckham Berry, Sam Rick, Harley Zemlicka, and Bryton Blauert.

GIRLS (10):  Maggie Kruger, Rylee Scoular, Siera Wenzl, Ashlynn Batchelor, Jacy Dexter, Zayda Townsend, Bianca Berry, Avery Schuneman, Bree Townsend, and Ella Koplin.

                                        **Go Bulldogs!