The LHS track team won both the boys and girls championship titles at the state track meet on May 27th and 28th. Last Friday, the meet took place at OGHS and the top finishers there went on to finals the next day at Howard Wood Field.

Going into the meet, the girls were expected to win, although nothing is guaranteed in track because every finishing place matters. On the boy’s side, a championship title was not foreshadowed by anyone outside of the LHS track team.

“Both the boys and the girls team are in position to do very well at the state meet this weekend,” said Head Track Coach James Jarovski. “We hope to finish as champions on both the boys and girls side and then take home the combined team title as well.  In order to do that, we have to perform to our abilities.  We need everyone on the team to peak at the right time.  Every point matters and it will come down to a couple athletes who can jump up a spot or two from their seeding. It will take a total team effort in order to capture the team title.”

The boys unexpectedly dominated the state track meet by beating the runner up school by 44 points. The girls on the other hand had a closer call, only beating Brandon by eight points. Athletes like Michaela Mohr had to place higher than expected in their events in order to walk out of the meet with the first girl’s championship since 1987.

“I think the girls deserved the championship because we had great talent and a competitive group of girls this year that all worked very hard during training this season and we have the best coaches in the state,” said Mohr. “They push us to perform better every day and
still make it fun.”

The LHS track team can be proud of their clean victory this last weekend at state. Each and every individual athlete gave it their all and because of that, they won as a team.

“Really what I am most proud of is how it was a true team victory,” said Jarovski. “In both the girls and the boys we scored points in the jumps, throws, hurdles, sprints, distance and relays.  We had kids step up and come through for the team. I was also proud of the fact that the boys won by 44 points which is one of the largest in state history and the girls winning the first team title in Sioux Falls in nearly 30 years.”