Last weekend, the best track and field athletes in the state gathered for the State Track and Field Meet in Sioux Falls and, as always, some amazing performances became etched in my mind.

First and foremost, with the qualification process used by the S.D. High School Activities Association, the best 24 (and ties in field events) athletes in each race or event goes to state. So just getting there is an accomplishment, so congratulations to each athlete who qualified.

The first record in my headline, was Rapid City Stevens’ Simeon Birnbaum eclipsing the 1600-meter run mark that was set by South Dakota’s pre-eminent distance runner, Rod DeHaven from Huron High School. DeHaven set his mark of 4:09 and change in 1984.

Thirty-nine years ago.

That Birnbaum would win the race was really a given - he was at least 15 seconds faster than every runner in the field during the season and his exploits both in-state and at national events is well known. His best time this season was better than DeHaven’s mark. However, breaking the record was NOT a given.

But he did, chopping seven seconds off the state meet record.

“Simeon is a generational talent not only for track/cross country but across all sports and it will be exciting to see how far running takes him,” said DeHaven after the state meet.

DeHaven recalled having a goal of setting a state record while in high school. “Fortunately, the weather was pretty good that day and I was able to get it done. It is a bit surprising that it stood as long as it did, but timing is critical in sports and lots of things have to come into place for records to fall.”

Birnbaum will take numerous state championships in both track and cross country with him this fall when he takes on the challenge of making his mark at “Runners University,” also known as the University of Oregon.

I wouldn’t bet against him.

With Birnbaum’s running career over in South Dakota, the ‘next one up’ appears to be Berkely Engelland from Mount Vernon/Plankinton. As a junior, last weekend Engelland, won the girls’ Class A 100, 200, 400 and 800-meter titles, after doubling up on the 400 and 800 as a sophomore. (She was second in the 200 and seventh in the 100).

That is kind of amazing, to have both the speed to take wins in sprints, yet have sufficient endurance to win a middle distance race.

One would have to believe that she will add to her list of state championships and state meet records next year, and that she is already likely a bright blip on most college’s radar screens.

State meet accomplishments aside, the most astonishing record-breaking performance that took place Saturday, was in Ottowa. That is where Rejeanne Fairhead completed a 5K road race in a world record time of 51:09.

But before you mumble “Well jeez Curt, that’s not such great a time…” take into account that Rejeanne is 96-years old.  

She set the goal of achieving a world record a year ago, when as a youngster of 95, she set the Canadian record, in her first road race ever, completed after doing no training in preparation.

As we watched the State Track and Field results roll in (thank goodness for Dakota Timing!) I looked at other state meet records and when they were set. Six stood out, for both their longevity and security.

For the girls’ records, a 4x800 meter relay team from Kadoka (Parke, Porch, Parke and Herb) set the state meet record of 9:41.53. That was in 1980 - 43 years ago. Deubrook Area won this year’s race, more than four seconds behind the decades old mark.

Another 1980 mark was broken this year, as the 151’-11” discus toss by Karen McDonald of Watertown was obliterated by Gracelyn Leiseth of Hamlin, who threw 169-11. Granted, McDonald still has the Class AA mark, but it took 43 years to even get close to her mark.

1980 must have been a good year for boys runners as well.

In what to me is the most amazing statistic, Elkton won the boys’ 4x800, 4x400 and Medley relay races in 1980, in times that have remained atop the standings. No Class B team this year really even threatened the mark.

Just like with the Kadoka girls, I couldn’t find out first names, but I am betting that the Gebhart family had a joyous celebration. Three Gebharts ran in both the 4x400 and 4x800 relays and two of them “Ev” (Everett?) and “Er”(Ervin?) ran in all three races. It is rare when a runner does both the 400 (sprint) and 800 (middle distance) races. Those two did it three times in one meet.

The closest any team came this year was in the 4x400, when Deubrook Area finished three-plus seconds behind the time set 43 years ago by the Elkton bunch.

Finally, there is George Amundson. Amundson set the State Meet Class AA discus mark in 1969 - when there wasn’t even a Class AA - with a toss of 211-4.

This year’s best was the 193-2 thrown by Kael Miedema of S.F. Washington. Even if you counted the roll, he probably doesn’t touch Amundson’s 54-year old record.

I find it interesting that when you peruse the state meet records, nearly all of them have been set in the last 10 years - many in the last two or three.

It figures, as athletes continue to get faster and stronger generations pass.

Mixed among those constantly upgraded marks, however, there are still a few jewels to be found, where on one day, at the right time, all the hard work and effort came together to set records that have stood the test of time.