SIOUX FALLS — In the first event of the 2024 South Dakota State track meet to go final, the James Valley Christian Lady Vikings set a new school record Thursday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.

The Lady Vikings placed second in the 4x800 meter relay, as the team of Daril Frandsen, Jacey Wipf, Hadasah Olson, and Andee Frandsen clocked in at 9:51:38, which shaved multiple seconds off the previous school mark. Wessington Springs finished ninth, just off the podium.

Other Heartland athletes had strong starts to the state meet.

In the girls‚ Class B shot put, three Heartland throwers placed as Wessington Springs’ Avery Orth took second place with a heave of 38-10.25, Hadlee Holt of Iroquois/Lake Preston finished third, and Maggie Decker of James Valley Christian finished sixth.

JVC freshman Gavin Waldner took third in the long jump with a leap of 21-1.5.

Wessington Springs claimed fifth in the 4x800 meter relay in Class B with a time of 8:37.81. Team members are Karter Mebius, Brock Krueger, Sam Poncelow, and Richard Cardona.

De Smet’s Grant Wilkinson was able to place fourth in the Class B boys’ shot put with a toss of 47-9.75. The Bulldogs’ George Jensen triple-jumped 42-0.25 to place fourth in Class B boys’ triple jump.

Emma Schneider of Hitchcock-Tulare finished fifth in the Class B girls’ triple jump, leaping 33-5.75. Liz Boschee of Sanborn Central/Woonsocket tied for sixth in the Class A girls’ high jump with a bound of 5-0.

The Sunshine Bible Academy girls took home eighth in the medley relay with a time of 4:31.98. Team members are Tessa Hinman, Dakota Boersma, Abby Hinman, and Betra Amare. In the Class A girls’ medley, Clark/Willow Lake placed sixth with a time of 4:24.14. Team members are Kelsey Hofer, Johanna Vandersnick, Cadence Bochek, and Kamryn Nesheim.

In the boys’ Class B medley relay, James Valley brought home sixth with a 3:48.04 clocking. Team members are Isaac Wipf, Tayne Herrmann, Gavin Waldner, and Dax Frandsen.

In prelims, multiple Heartland athletes qualified for finals later this weekend.

Andee Frandsen of James Valley Christian qualified for finals in the Class B 100-meter hurdles as did Iroquois/Lake Preston’s Adison Moore in the Class B 100-meter dash.

Ganon Henrich of De Smet also qualified for the finals in the boys’ Class B 100-meter dash.

The De Smet boys’ 4x100 relay qualified for the finals on Saturday.

After one day, three area girls’ teams find themselves among the top-10 in team scoring in Class B. James Valley Christian is tied for third behind leader Deubrook Area while Wessington Springs (tied seventh) and Iroquois/Lake Preston (tied ninth) are also among the top ten. De Smet’s boys are the only other area in the top ten in team points, as the Bulldogs are tied for ninth.