Watertown is set to host the Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet for the first time since 2011. The event will feature various track and field competitions at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex.
Key points
Watertown hosting Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet
First time since 2011
Event at Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex
Alayna Smith won girls' 100-meter dash
Malia Kranz won girls' discus
Watertown's Alayna Smith, second from right, beats teammates Anna Hirtz (lane 5) and Carighan Klatt (lane 6) to the finish line to win the girls' 100-meter dash during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Hirtz was second and Klatt third. Also pictured are Great Plains Lutheran's Keturah Schleusener (left) and Aberdeen Central's Josephine Cobbs. Smith was named the the Class AA outstanding girls' track athlete of the meet.
Malia Kranz of Watertown won the girls' discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. She topped the field with a throw of 144 feet, 2 inches.
Jonas Geier of Watertown placed fourth in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Brookings' Isla Eidsness competes in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Q&A
When is the Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet in Watertown?
The Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet will take place on April 24, 2026.
What notable achievements occurred at the Watoma Relays track meet?
Alayna Smith won the girls' 100-meter dash, and Malia Kranz won the girls' discus with a throw of 144 feet, 2 inches.
Why is Watertown hosting the Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet now?
Watertown is hosting the meet for the first time since 2011, indicating a return to the event after a significant gap.
Where is the Eastern South Dakota Conference track meet being held?
The meet will be held at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Shauna Evenson of Watertown lands in the pit while competing in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Tyson Hagberg of Deuel, Tate DeVries of Aberdeen Central and Jeter Scoular of Milbank battle for the lead in the boys' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. DeVries won the race.
Milbank's Anna Neugebauer takes her turn in the girls' discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Ella Sass of Clark-Willow Lake set a new Class A-B record by winning the girls' discus with a toss of 104 feet, 8 inches during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Great Plains Lutheran's Lucas Johnson cleared 6 feet, 4 inches to win the boys' high jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Kennedy Ronning of Brookings won the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown's Hunter Peterson took third in the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Great Plains Lutheran's Abigail Kjenstad soars in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Allison Konrad of Watertown gets ready to throw the discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Jack Bertsch of Aberdeen Central launches the shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Arlington's Kaelyn Ulschmid leads Aberdeen Central runners Khloe Cochan (back left) and Evie Novstrup in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Aberdeen Central's Carter Lust passes the baton to teammate Austin Ryan in the boys' 800-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Aberdeen Central won the race.
Jennifer Bevers of Clark-Willow Lake, Zayda Townsend of Milbank, Kalla Foerster of Brookings and Olivia Anderson of Watertown compete in a girls' 400-meter dash heat race during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Townsend won the event.
Watertown's Kye Paulson attempts to clear 6 feet, 4 inches in the boys' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown's Kate McElroy heads to the finish in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Milbank's Harley Zemlicka nears the finish line in the boys' 300-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown's Kynsee Russell gets ready to release the javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Dane Stark of Watertown secured a big lead over the rest of the pack while winning the boys' 800-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Aberdeen Central's Espynn Kuhfeld leads teammate Mya Arampatzis and Clark-Willow Lake's Emma Bochek to the finish line in the girls' 300-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Clark-Willow Lake's Michael Severson won the boys' shot put with a toss of 51 feet, 5 inches during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown's Jordan Remmers competes in the girls' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Bergan Tetzlaff of Brookings establish a new Class AA boys' record in the javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. He won the event with a throw of 162 feet, 11 inches.
Watertown's Anna Hirtz passes the baton to teammate Brooke Grajczyk in the girls' 800-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. The Arrows won the race.
Kyson Fayant of Aberdeen Central leads the pack, including Brody Bass of Castlewood (right) and Harley Zemlicka of Milbank to the finish line in the boys' 110-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Brecken Santjer of Aberdeen Central skims the bar in the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Deuel's Owen Haas competes in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Camdyn Peterreins of Deuel lets go of the discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Brenner Waldrop of Aberdeen Central throws the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Shyla Tvedt of Deuel, Madalyn Madsen of Arlington and Paola Culhuac Segundo of Milbank run in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Karson Borge of Aberdeen Central (right) beat Gavin Kloos of Deuel and Kamden Keszler of Castlewood to the finish line in the boys' 100-meter dash during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Borge, the son of former Watertown High School standout athlete Amber Pickrel, also the boys' 200 dash. Kloos was named the outstanding Class A-B boys' track athlete of the meet.
Grace McElroy of Watertown raced to victory in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Jake Burns of Arlington throws in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Hannah Cutshaw of Deuel makes a successful vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Kaylie Kuehl of Brookings, right, leads Kennedy Bryant of Madison and Grace List of Watertown in the girls' 800-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Mya Arampatzis of Aberdeen Central broke the Class AA girls' meet record in winning the 100-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Her time was 14.84 seconds.
Milbank's Lawson Novy competes in the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
McKenzie Jorgensen of Aberdeen Central, Kaylie Kuehl of Brookings and Bianca Berry of Milbank run in the girls' 3,200-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown's Daniel Henrichs takes his turn in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Elly Dingsor of Watertown clears the bar in the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Kamryn Nesheim of Clark-Willow Lake runs a leg in the girls' medley relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. CWL won the race in a Class A-B meet record time of 4:19.07. Nesheim was named the outstanding Class A-B girls' track athlete of the meet.
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Ten area high school standouts up for our latest Athlete of the Week honor
Watertown's Alayna Smith, second from right, beats teammates Anna Hirtz (lane 5) and Carighan Klatt (lane 6) to the finish line to win the girls' 100-meter dash during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Hirtz was second and Klatt third. Also pictured are Great Plains Lutheran's Keturah Schleusener (left) and Aberdeen Central's Josephine Cobbs. Smith was named the the Class AA outstanding girls' track athlete of the meet.
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Ten area high school standouts up for our latest Athlete of the Week honor
Watertown's Alayna Smith, second from right, beats teammates Anna Hirtz (lane 5) and Carighan Klatt (lane 6) to the finish line to win the girls' 100-meter dash during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Hirtz was second and Klatt third. Also pictured are Great Plains Lutheran's Keturah Schleusener (left) and Aberdeen Central's Josephine Cobbs. Smith was named the the Class AA outstanding girls' track athlete of the meet.
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Watertown's Malia Kranz looking to put exclamation point on track career
Malia Kranz of Watertown won the girls' discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. She topped the field with a throw of 144 feet, 2 inches.
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Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Jonas Geier of Watertown placed fourth in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
4 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Brookings' Isla Eidsness competes in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
5 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Shauna Evenson of Watertown lands in the pit while competing in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Watertown hosting Eastern S.D. Conference track meet for first time since 2011
Tyson Hagberg of Deuel, Tate DeVries of Aberdeen Central and Jeter Scoular of Milbank battle for the lead in the boys' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. DeVries won the race.
7 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Milbank's Anna Neugebauer takes her turn in the girls' discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
8 / 44
Watertown, Aberdeen Central win 23 events; eight records fall in Watoma Relays
Ella Sass of Clark-Willow Lake set a new Class A-B record by winning the girls' discus with a toss of 104 feet, 8 inches during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
9 / 44
Watertown, Aberdeen Central win 23 events; eight records fall in Watoma Relays
Great Plains Lutheran's Lucas Johnson cleared 6 feet, 4 inches to win the boys' high jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
10 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Kennedy Ronning of Brookings won the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
11 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Hunter Peterson took third in the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Watertown hosting Eastern S.D. Conference track meet for first time since 2011
Great Plains Lutheran's Abigail Kjenstad soars in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Allison Konrad of Watertown gets ready to throw the discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
14 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Jack Bertsch of Aberdeen Central launches the shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
15 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Arlington's Kaelyn Ulschmid leads Aberdeen Central runners Khloe Cochan (back left) and Evie Novstrup in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Aberdeen Central's Carter Lust passes the baton to teammate Austin Ryan in the boys' 800-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Aberdeen Central won the race.
17 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Jennifer Bevers of Clark-Willow Lake, Zayda Townsend of Milbank, Kalla Foerster of Brookings and Olivia Anderson of Watertown compete in a girls' 400-meter dash heat race during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Townsend won the event.
18 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Kye Paulson attempts to clear 6 feet, 4 inches in the boys' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Kate McElroy heads to the finish in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
20 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Milbank's Harley Zemlicka nears the finish line in the boys' 300-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
21 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Kynsee Russell gets ready to release the javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
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Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Dane Stark of Watertown secured a big lead over the rest of the pack while winning the boys' 800-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
23 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Aberdeen Central's Espynn Kuhfeld leads teammate Mya Arampatzis and Clark-Willow Lake's Emma Bochek to the finish line in the girls' 300-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
24 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Clark-Willow Lake's Michael Severson won the boys' shot put with a toss of 51 feet, 5 inches during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
25 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Jordan Remmers competes in the girls' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
26 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Bergan Tetzlaff of Brookings establish a new Class AA boys' record in the javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. He won the event with a throw of 162 feet, 11 inches.
27 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Anna Hirtz passes the baton to teammate Brooke Grajczyk in the girls' 800-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. The Arrows won the race.
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Area athletes shine in track, tennis, golf, softball and baseball
Kyson Fayant of Aberdeen Central leads the pack, including Brody Bass of Castlewood (right) and Harley Zemlicka of Milbank to the finish line in the boys' 110-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
29 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Brecken Santjer of Aberdeen Central skims the bar in the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
30 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Deuel's Owen Haas competes in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
31 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Camdyn Peterreins of Deuel lets go of the discus during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
32 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Brenner Waldrop of Aberdeen Central throws the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
33 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Shyla Tvedt of Deuel, Madalyn Madsen of Arlington and Paola Culhuac Segundo of Milbank run in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
34 / 44
Watertown, Aberdeen Central win 23 events; eight records fall in Watoma Relays
Karson Borge of Aberdeen Central (right) beat Gavin Kloos of Deuel and Kamden Keszler of Castlewood to the finish line in the boys' 100-meter dash during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Borge, the son of former Watertown High School standout athlete Amber Pickrel, also the boys' 200 dash. Kloos was named the outstanding Class A-B boys' track athlete of the meet.
35 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Grace McElroy of Watertown raced to victory in the girls' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
36 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Jake Burns of Arlington throws in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
37 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Hannah Cutshaw of Deuel makes a successful vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
38 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Kaylie Kuehl of Brookings, right, leads Kennedy Bryant of Madison and Grace List of Watertown in the girls' 800-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
39 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Mya Arampatzis of Aberdeen Central broke the Class AA girls' meet record in winning the 100-meter hurdles during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Her time was 14.84 seconds.
40 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Milbank's Lawson Novy competes in the boys' shot put during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
41 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
McKenzie Jorgensen of Aberdeen Central, Kaylie Kuehl of Brookings and Bianca Berry of Milbank run in the girls' 3,200-meter relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
42 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Watertown's Daniel Henrichs takes his turn in the boys' javelin during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
43 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Elly Dingsor of Watertown clears the bar in the girls' pole vault during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
44 / 44
Eight records fall during the 60th Watoma Relays track & field meet
Kamryn Nesheim of Clark-Willow Lake runs a leg in the girls' medley relay during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. CWL won the race in a Class A-B meet record time of 4:19.07. Nesheim was named the outstanding Class A-B girls' track athlete of the meet.
WATERTOWN — Watertown High School's track and field squads wouldn't mind matching what the Arrows did 15 years ago.
That was 2011, when Watertown became the first Eastern South Dakota Conference school to sweep the team titles as the host team for the conference meet.
Fast forward to this Saturday, May 16, when Watertown is set to host the ESD meet for the first time since then. The 2026 meet is set to open with field events at 10 a.m. and track events at noon at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex.
Normally, the conference meet alternates yearly between the various schools, but a combination of COVID-19 wiping out the 2020 spring athletic season and construction work at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex forced Watertown to skip its turn until this spring.
Aberdeen Central, Brandon Valley, Brookings, Harrisburg, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, Tea Area and Yankton are also set to compete in the meet. Harrisburg's girls and Brandon Valley's boys are the defending champions. Harrisburg ended Brandon Valley's 10-year reign in the girls division last year, winning by a 159-154.5 margin. Brandon Valley topped Harrisburg 165.5-144.5 to win the boys division.
Aberdeen Central's teams each placed fourth and Watertown's girls took fifth and the boys eighth in last year's ESD meet. Watertown last won in 2019 (boys) and 2012 (girls) and Aberdeen Central in 2021 (boys) and 2013 (girls).
Returning individual-event champions in the boys division include Mikah Peters (1,600 and 3,200-meter runs) and Austin Dowd (javelin) of Brandon Valley, Miles Drotzmann (110 hurdles), Kyson Fayant of Aberdeen Central (300 hurdles) and Daniel O'Connor of Harrisburg (long jump).
Returning individual-event champs in the girls division are Charlee Williams-Smith (200 and 400 dashes) of Pierre; Brianna Reilly (800 and 1,600 runs), Hannah Genrich (3,200 run) and Claire Backstrom (300 hurdles) of Harrisburg; My Arampatzis (100 hurdles), Taryn Hermansen (shot put) and Jaidyn Forsyth (pole vault) of Aberdeen Central; Malia Kranz (discus and javelin) and Mayla McGhee (high jump) of Watertown; Burkley Olson (long jump) of Yankton and Jayaunna Stroh (triple jump) of Brandon Valley. Kranz is the two-time defending champion in the discus).
The ESD meet caps a busy week of conference meets for Watertown and Aberdeen area athletes. Here's more on those meets. Click on the conference meet name online (www.thepublicopinion.com) for meet records and/or schedules.
Watertown’s Carter Clark hits the sand in the boys triple jump during the Al Sahli Invitational track and field meet on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Aberdeen. Clark is one of the many Arrow athletes who will compete Saturday, May 16 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
Watertown’s Carter Clark hits the sand in the boys triple jump during the Al Sahli Invitational track and field meet on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Aberdeen. Clark is one of the many Arrow athletes who will compete Saturday, May 16 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown.
When & Where — Tuesday, May 12 at Britton. Combined middle school and high school meet.
Starting Times — Field events begin at 1 p.m. and track events at 2 p.m.
Teams — Britton-Hecla, Florence-Henry, Great Plains Lutheran, Tri-State, Waubay-Summit, Waverly-South Shore and Wilmot.
Defending Team Champions — Great Plains Lutheran has won 19-straight boys division and 15-straight girls division titles.
Great Plains Lutheran's Abigail Kjenstad soars in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on in April at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Kjenstad is looking to help the Panther teams continue long winning streaks in the Eastern Coteau Conference meet on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Britton.
Great Plains Lutheran's Abigail Kjenstad soars in the girls' long jump during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on in April at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. Kjenstad is looking to help the Panther teams continue long winning streaks in the Eastern Coteau Conference meet on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Britton.
When & Where — Tuesday, May 12 at Huron High School.
Starting Times — Field events start at 10 a.m. and track events at noon.
Teams — Highmore-Harrold, Hitchcock-Tulare, Iroquois-Lake Preston, James Valley Christian, Sanborn Central-Woonsocket, Sunshine Bible Academy, Wessington Springs and Wolsey-Wessington.
Defending Team Champions — Wolsey-Wessington's girls and Wessington Springs' boys.
Starting Times — Field events start at 1:30 p.m., remaining field events at 2:30 p.m. and track events at 3:30 p.m.
Teams — Arlington, Castlewood, Colman-Egan, Dell Rapids St. Mary, De Smet, Deubrook Area, Elkton-Lake Benton, Estelline-Hendricks, Iroquois-Lake Preston and Oldham-Ramona-Rutland.
Defending Team Champions — Elkton-Lake Benton has won five-straight boys division titles. Colman-Egan is the defending girls division champion.
Tyson Hagberg of Deuel, Tate DeVries of Aberdeen Central and Jeter Scoular of Milbank battle for the lead in the boys' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. DeVries won the race. All three runners are among the area athletes set to compete in conference track and field meets from May 12-16.
Tyson Hagberg of Deuel, Tate DeVries of Aberdeen Central and Jeter Scoular of Milbank battle for the lead in the boys' 3,200-meter run during the 60th Watoma Relays track and field meet on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown. DeVries won the race. All three runners are among the area athletes set to compete in conference track and field meets from May 12-16.
Starting Times — Field events start at 2 p.m. and track events at 3 p.m.
Teams — Aberdeen Roncalli, Britton-Hecla, Clark-Willow Lake, Deuel, Groton Area, Hamlin, Milbank, Redfield, Sisseton, Tiospa Zina and Webster Area.
Defending Team Champions — The 2025 meet was cancelled because of weather. Milbank has seven-straight boys division and three-straight girls division titles.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
