Thursday, 4.23.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net SPORTS DEPT.: [email protected] ress akotan sports P &D PAGE 11 Track & Field | Mount Marty Twilight Monson Finds His Stride MMC Holds Deep Field Lone Home Expected At Event Of Drake Relays BY LUKE MEREDITH Season AP Sports Writer BY JEREMY HOECK [email protected] DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Higher purses have helped During the summer the Drake Relays attract months, it’s not an uncom- some of its deepest fields in mon sight for drivers on a recent years. lonely stretch of Highway 28 This year’s meet will in northeast South Dakota feature many of the world’s to see a young man running best athletes at a venue that along the side of the road. draws far more fans than the They may typical American event. Stars have done a like LaShawn Merritt, Javier double-take Culson and Dawn Harper-Nel- in confusion, son will headline the field for but for Josh the 106th annual meet, which Monson, runs begins in earnest Thursday like those 14- and concludes on Saturday. mile journeys Hometown favorite to and from Monson Lolo Jones pulled out of his home town the 100-meter hurdles late in Bryant are a Tuesday with what Relays way of life now. director Brian Brown called a As improbable as it might “minor injury.” have been six years ago, the Here are some of the key 24-year-old Mount Marty events to keep an eye on at College student is now a dedi- Drake University’s famed cated distance runner. “blue oval,” which should “The furthest I ever raced draw close to 15,000 for Sat- was a mile,” Monson said urday’s final session: during Wednesday’s Mount MEN’S 400 METERS: Marty Twilight track meet at The field for this race looks Williams Field in Yankton. more like that of Diamond Monson, once a basketball League meet than one set and football player at Hamlin for late April in Iowa. Seven High School, is now one of the world’s top 10 from month away from competing the end of 2014, including in the marathon at the NAIA ABOVE: Mount Marty’s Abbey Van- top-ranked Merritt and 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Cham- DenBerg kicks up sand as she hits London Games champion pionships in Alabama. the pit in the women’s long jump at Kirani James of Grenada, will The the Mount Marty College Twilight compete in the event Friday prospect track and field meet on Wednesday at evening. With cool tempera- also of a 26-mile Williams Field in Yankton. tures and possible rain in n Find A Gal- run is noth- the forecast, many of the top lery With More ing new to LEFT: Mount Marty’s Logan Ulmer sprinters might sit out the Monson, wins his heat in the men’s 110-meter race rather than risk injury. Photos From The hurdles. Meet Online At. but he WOMEN’S 100 HURDLES: laughs yankton.net This race will be loaded when look- BELOW: South Dakota’s Kayla John- despite the absence of Jones. ing back to son competes in the women’s ham- America’s top two hurdle his initial mer throw. stars, Harper-Nelson and conversations with Mount JAMES D. CIMBUREK/P&D Queen Harrison, will renew Marty coach Randy Fischer. their rivalry on Jones’ high “When coach recruited school track. But don’t count me, he was saying, ‘We’ll out Great Britian’s Tiffany have you try cross country,’” Ofili-Porter. She is the current Monson said. “I hated it my world leader at 12.56 — first year. That was the most though it’s still very early in running I’d ever done in my the outdoor season — and life.” has won twice at Drake. Even when Monson began WOMEN’S 400: The his cross country journey at world’s top three from 2014, the small college in Yankton, including top-ranked Novlene he still considered following Williams of Jamaica, head- his true athletic passion – line the final major race of basketball. the meet. The biggest name “I got here and thought for U.S. fans will be Sanya about walking on for basket- Richards-Ross, the 2012 Lon- ball,” Monson said. “Then I don Olympics champion in saw how much time it took. the 400 and a six-time world “It was like, ‘Nah, I’ll stick champion — including twice with cross country.’ That’s at the Olympics — in the only an hour a day.” 4x400 relay. MEN’S 400 HURDLES: Cul- TWILIGHT | PAGE 12 son has starred at Drake in the past, winning this event twice. He finished 2014 atop the world. But American Mi- Track & Field: CWC Boys, St. chael Tinsley has won his last MMC Softball Drops Two At Concordia five races at Drake Stadium Mary’s Girls Win St. Mary’s Inv. SEWARD, Neb. – The Krause, Sophia Lopez and doubled in the win. and wrapped up the last Mount Marty College softball Lauren Orwig also had hits. Olivia Rodriguez, Janicek two outdoor seasons ranked O’NEILL, Neb. – The high school event held on the team was swept at Concordia Woodward struck out and Orwig each had two hits second in the world. Chambers-Wheeler Central recently-completed Raider on Wednesday in Great Plains six to pick up the win. Katie for MMC, with Janicek record- FIELD DAY: France’s boys and O’Neill St. Mary’s Track Complex. Athletic Conference action. Groteluschen took the loss, ing a double. Jennifer Mitera Renaud LaVillenie, the 2012 girls earned top honors at the Camron Herrick won the In the opener, pitcher with Krause pitching 2 2/3 also had a hit for MMC, driv- Olympic champion and St. Mary’s Invitational track high jump (6-2) and long Michaela Woodward helped innings of shutout relief. ing in both runs. current world No. 1, will be and field meet, held Wednes- jump (18-11) for the Bridge- her own cause, going 2-3 with In the nightcap, Wood- Woodward struck out two back to defend his meet title. day in O’Neill, Nebraska. water-Emery boys, two of the three RBI to lead Concordia ward picked her second win to pick up the win. Brooke U.S. high jump star Chaunte Mackenzie Wecker won Huskies’ six victories on the to an 8-2 victory. of the day in a 7-2 decision. Becker took the loss. Lowe, a four-time Drake the pole vault (9-6) and both day. Canton’s Jesse Lohan, Julia Tyree doubled and MaKenna Tracy had two MMC, now 10-23 overall winner, will compete against hurdle races to lead the St. who won the 100 (12.2) and singled, and Diana Mendoza hits and Tyree homered to and 3-15 in the Great Plains Spanish star Ruth Beitia and Mary’s girls. She clocked a 200 (23.7), was also a double- had two hits for Concordia. lead Concordia. Woodward Athletic Conference, plays at fellow American Brigetta 16.73 in the 100 hurdles, and winner in the boys’ division. Cassidy Janicek had two tripled, and Molly Madsen NCAA Division I South Dakota Barrett. a 49.75 in the 300 hurdles. Among area athletes, Cen- of MMC’s five hits. Amber and Shelby Schacher each State on Friday. Also for the Cardinals, Ale- terville’s Christian Gruschin jandra Vergara-Kersenbrock (discus, 151-0) and Tyrell won the 800 (2:36.06) and Martz (pole vault, 10-9) won helped St. Mary’s to victory titles, as did Elk Point-Jeffer- Rangers Extend in the 1600 relay (4:33.07) as son’s Hunter Paulsen in the the Cardinals scored 155.6 1600 (4:55.5), Freeman Acad- Lead On Pens points on the day. emy’s Ryan Haggerty in the PITTSBURGH (AP) — Runner-up Riverside, 3200 (10:52.0), Irene-Wakon- Kevin Hayes scored at 3:14 SUCCESS OUTSIDE which finished with 126.3 da’s Matt Nelson in the 300 of overtime to give the New points, was led by Karen hurdles (44.6) and Menno’s York Rangers a 2-1 victory THE CLASSROOM Schmeits, who won the 100 Austin Handel in the shot put over the Pittsburgh Penguins (12.89) and 200 (26.73), and (44-9.5). Gayville-Volin won on Wednesday night in Game helped the team to victory in the medley relay (4:22.1). 4 of the Eastern Conference You’ll have plenty of opportunities the 400 relay (52.0). The Canton girls won first-round series. for personal growth while earning The Niobrara-Verdigre six titles on the way to 233 The Rangers lead the se- girls scored 13 points on the points, well ahead of host ries 3-1 heading back to New your degree at Northeast Community day. Gayville-Volin’s 123. York for Game 5 on Friday College. Our faculty will help you gain The CWC boys scored 157 Laura Nelson won the night. skills to start your career through points, led by the throwers’ 1600 (5:50.5) and 3200 In overtime, Martin St. internships or studying abroad. sweep by Jayle Hinkle (129-9 (12:14.5) to lead Gayville-Vo- Louis started a goalmouth discus, 50-7.5 shot put) and lin, which also got victories scramble when he threw the wins in the 800 (2:09.66) and from Genevieve Clark in the puck in front on a wrapa- There is something for everyone at pole vault (10-0) by Connor 800 (2:45.0) and from its 3200 round attempt. The puck Northeast. Start your application today Croxen. The squad also won relay (10:45.9). pinballed to Carl Hagelin and at northeast.edu! the 1600 and 3200 relays). Irene-Wakonda won the went across the crease for Boyd County was a distant 400 (54.1) and 800 (1:52.7) Hayes to flip it past fallen second with 107 points. relays, and got a 100-meter goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Niobrara-Verdigre scored 45 hurdle victory from Lauren The point was Hayes’ first in points on the day. Sokolowski (15.0) and a the postseason. high jump win from Andrea SENATORS 1, CANADIENS 0: OT- Sokolowski (5-3). Elk Point- TAWA, Ontario (AP) — Mike Hoffman Tri-State Inv. Jefferson got a win from Josie scored midway through the third period GAYVILLE – The Canton Heeren in the 400 (1:02.8) and Ottawa beat Montreal to avoid success starts here. girls ran away with team hon- and from its medley relay elimination. ors and the Bridgewater-Em- squad (4:43.6). Centerville’s Craig Anderson made 28 saves to help the Senators’ cut Montreal’s lead Main Campus ery boys claimed a tight team Rebecca Hybertson won the Norfolk, Nebraska | 402-371-2020 race in the inaugural Tri-State to 3-1 in the Eastern Conference first- pole vault (7-9). round series. Carey Price stopped 31 northeast.edu Invitational, held on Tuesday shots for the Canadiens. in Gayville. It was the first TRACK | PAGE 12 Senators coach Dave Cameron