It was the speed of Pine Ridge’s Ilijah Coleman vs. the stamina of Stevens’ Andrew Cottier in the boys’ 1600 meters. Coleman’s kick carried him past Cottier in the final lap.
Caelyn Valandra, Todd County’s budding 13-year-old standout quarter miler, fresh off her surprising win at the Howard Wood Relays in Sioux Falls, cruised to an easy 59.44 win in the Girls 400 meters. Valandra had run a 57.14 in Sioux Falls but the cold would not accommodate such times at Sioux Park.
Todd County’s Jacob Poignee won both the 110 meter hurdles and the 300 hurdles.
A stunning time of 10.47 was turned in by Carter Price of Stevens in the 100 meters. K.J. Watson, Stevens, was second in 11.00 and Ty Herman of Todd County third at 11.12. The state record for 100 meters is 11.40, held by several, and given the deep cold, Carter’s 10.47 raises an eyebrow. But whatever the case, his speed in such cold was impressive and he has a legitimate shot at breaking the state record sometime this season.
Todd County’s 13-year-old phenom Caelyn Valandra buries the field in the girls’ 400 meters.
Three of Rapid City Stevens top Lakota track athletes (L to R), Andrew Cottier, Daniel Valazquez and Jacob Martin.
Cottier grabbed the early lead in the 1600, while Coleman elected to spend the first lap biding his time at the rear of the pack. On lap two he separated himself from the stragglers but did not attempt to break from the pack and catch Cottier.
“I took it easy on the first lap,” Coleman said. “Second lap I passed a couple guys, made my move on the third lap which is always the toughest.”
Coleman stayed shoulder to shoulder down the front stretch of the third lap and did not pull ahead of Cottier until the bell lap, top of the first turn.
Cottier said he had no plans to race Coleman: “It was all about the time. I was trying to get a time to qualify for state.”
Coleman won in 4:45.81. Cottier’s second place time of 4:52.19 did not qualify for AA state. Another Lakota teammate of Cottier’s, Daniel Valazquez was third in the 1600 (4:57.12).
Cottier says Stevens has four Lakota boys on the track team. One of them, Jacob Martin, defeated Coleman in the high jump, winning the event by clearing 5-9. Cottier and Martin are also a quality basketball players, and Cottier says seen Lakota players will return to the Stevens basketball team next year. This would make Stevens the top AA school in Lakota representation in the state. For decades that distinction went to cross town rival Central, but Cottier who spent his first two high school years at Central said, “I didn’t like the coaching for basketball.”
What Cottier does like is running: “I take it as my first priority over basketball. Running is my number one sport. Cross country is my favorite sport.”
Outside of sports, Cottier’s favorite subject is English: “I like writing, my favorite is poetry. I like the rhythm, just like to get in that groove with the rhythm, it’s fun.”
That is the reason why he is enjoying his basketball time at Stevens: “It’s just really fun, and we’re all really close friends.”
Todd County’s Jordan Poignee won both hurdle events, the 110 meters in (15.47), and the 300 hurdles in 41.74. Austin Hammer of Todd County took second in the long jump, just behind Desmond Donaldson of Stevens (20-07.25). Hammer jumped 19-07.25, impressive considering his specialty is distance running.
Lee Sharpfish of Todd County was second in the triple jump, behind KJ Watson of Stevens (38-00.00). Sharpfish turned in a 37-00.00. Jon Dreamer of Pine Ridge finished second in shot put (41- 05.00) behind James Dethlefs of Stevens (45-09.50). Dreamer also placed third in discus.
Class A schools will next compete at the Region 7A meet in Winner on May 19. On that same day Class B will have their regional in Rapid City. Also on May 19, Stevens will be at the Class AA Last Chance Meet at Woodle Field in Sturgis.
(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)
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