Six Langford Area thinclads will be competing in five events in the Class B state track meet at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls Thursday through Saturday.
Action gets underway at 10 a.m. for field events and 11 a.m. for running events on Thursday. Friday start times are 9 and 9:30 a.m., and on Saturday the meet begins at 9:30 a.m. with field events and 10 a.m. for running events.
The top 24 times/distances in each event advanced to the state competition. Senior Kalen Godel is a three-time qualifier for the Lions, standing seventh in the 800 run (2:02.61), 11th in the 1600 run (4:45.23), and he runs the anchor leg of the medley relay that ranks 13th (3:50.04). Other members of the relay quartet are junior Caleb Mertz, freshman Johnathon Behning (substituting for the injured Conner Glines), and freshman Skylar Godel.
Two girls qualified in individual events. Senior Bayleann Moen is ninth in the pole vault (8-7) and sophomore Paytyn Marlow ranks seventh in the 100-meter dash (12.92).
“I think Kalen and Paytyn can podium in the 800 and 100 and hopefully we can run our best races in the other events and see how it shakes out,” said LA coach Charles Hosford. “I’ve been surprised before by kids at state. Everybody runs faster at Howard Wood.”
Hosford has been pleased with the effort from his squad this season.
“I’m really proud of the kids’ resilience. We’ve had alternates step up and our girls 400 relay was really pushing for an extra chance to qualify and traveled to Mobridge to try and get in, faling just short. Four track meets in five days was tough, but it was good experience for them and I fully expect them to be state qualifiers next year.
LA wrapped up its regular season with a pair of meets, traveling to Webster on Thursday and to Warner last week Tuesday.
Last Chance Meet At Warner
BOYS RESULTS
TEAM POINTS: Warner 166, Hitchcock-Tulare 97, Northwestern 97, Britton-Hecla 93, Frederick Area 87, Leola 63, Faulkton Area 55, Aberdeen Christian 31, Langford Area 21, Aberdeen Roncalli 16 100 Dash: 5. Skylar Godel 12.12; 2000 Dash: 4. Skylar Godel 25.90 6. Caleb Mertz 26.01; Medley Relay: 2. Skylar Godel, Johnny Behning, Caleb Mertz, Kalen Godel 3:57.05; Long Jump: 8. Kalen Godel 16-9.75
GIRLS RESULTS
TEAM POINTS: Warner 171, Aberdeen Christian 100, Faulkton Area 98, Britton-Hecla 95, Frederick Area 74, Northwestern 69, Hitchcock-Tulare 63, Langford Area 16, Aberdeen Roncalli 6, Leola 1 100 Dash: 2. Paytyn Marlow 12.92; 400 Relay: 4. Paytyn Marlow, Brooke Dwight, Emily Olson, Lizzie Gustafson 54.61; High Jump: 8. Lizzie Gustafson 4-4.25; Triple Jump: 7. Emily Olson 2910
Webster Area Invitational
Participating Teams: Aberdeen Roncalli, Britton-Hecla, Frederick Area, Groton Area, Langford Area, Redfield, Sisseton, Tri-State, Warner, Waubay-Summit, Waverly-South Shore, Webster Area, Wilmot
BOYS RESULTS
100 Dash: 6. Skylar Godel 12.14; 200 Dash: 4. Skylar Godel 24.87; 300 Hurdles: 5. Caleb Mertz 47.87; 1600 Relay: 6. Skylar Godel, Johnny Behning, Caleb Mertz, Kalen Godel 3:53.80; High Jump: 7. Kalen Godel 5-1
GIRLS RESULTS
100 Dash: 1. Paytyn Marlow 13.11; 200 Dash: 2. Paytyn Marlow 28.87; 400 Relay: 2. Paytyn Marlow, Brooke Dwight, Emily Olson, Lizzie Gustafson 54.59; 5. Lizzie Gustafson 4-4; Pole Vault: 6. Bayleann Moen 7-10; Long Jump: 4. Brooke Dwight 14-7.25 6. Paytyn Marlow 14-6.5; Triple Jump: 8. Emily Olson 29-7.5
