One of the highlights of the high school athletic season is the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. It is the pinnacle of high school track and field with over 3,000 middle and high school students competing from around the state. When you ask any of the athletes, pre or post-grad, what their high school hig hlight was from their athletic careers, most will say this weekend was up there if not at the top. It is by far the most attended event throughout the high school season with thousands descending upon Sioux Falls to see the states top track and field athletes compete on the biggest stage. Massive crowds surrounding the track offering an extra incentive of motivation to finish with the best result possible. That extra adrenaline boost has offered up new meet records, new state records and plenty of personal bests. This year marks the 101st running of the Howard Wood relays, and each year they hold a “signature event” for both the men’s and women’s divisions. This year, it was the men’s 200 meter dash and the women’s 800 meter run. These two events are competed in by invite only, and are a true feather in the athlete’s caps should they get the honor. In the men’s 200m, Treynor’s Cauy Konz took first with a time of 21.22 followed closely behind by Zayden Horne from Legacy who finished with a time of 21.31. In third was Sioux Falls Lincoln’s Javon Haukaas with a time of 21.49. In the women’s 800m, first was secured by Peyton VanDeest of Spearfish who ran it in a time of 2:09.81, clearing second by almost a full second. Emma Steffensen of Waverly took second behind VanDeest with a time of 2:10.18 followed by Brianna Reilly of Harrisburg who finished with a time of 2:11.79. From Pierre, one of their top performers and top athletes throughout the season, Charlee Williams-Smith, took second place in the 100m dash with a blistering time of 12.09. Also from Pierre, Caleb Morris took 10th in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:21.74, and Emlyn Swanson who took 25th in the long jump. Elsewhere from the Central South Dakota area, Miller’s Isaak Hunter took the 11th spot in the 110m hurdles. Jones County also saw a nice finish from BreAna Aske who finished in a tie for 19th in the long jump with a distance of 16-01.25. Wall’s Dawson Handcock took the top spot in the long jump with an impressive distance of 21-11.25. To view every result from Friday’s events, click here. Day two will begin shortly with events today at 9 AM CT, and the day will also see a flyover from the South Dakota Air National Guard at noon. Follow along at the local sports page at DRGnews.com for more updates. ...read more read less