Names to know ahead of the 101st Howard Wood Dakota Relays
Apr. 28—SIOUX FALLS — The Howard Wood Dakota Relays return for their 101st running on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2, at Howard Wood Field. Last season, 13 new high school-age meet records were established at the Dakota Relays, and this year's field figures to challenge for more top marks as top talents from across the region converge.
Here are some of the top athletes and storylines to keep an eye on this weekend: * Rapid City Stevens set the new all-time South Dakota girls 4x100-meter relay record at 47. 68 seconds in 2025, and all four members of the quartet — Maya Khachikian, Riley Willet, Ava Holzwarth, Ella Bradeen — are back this season. In fact, that quartet has already shaved time off their previous record, lowering the mark to 47.
56 seconds on April 16. Notably, those four are also the defending 4x100 champions at the Dakota Relays. * Stevens' Ava Holzwarth added the girls long jump title at the 2025 Dakota Relays, and this season, she's ranked No.
1 in South Dakota at 19 feet, 10. 75 inches, with teammate Ella Bradeen ranked No. 2 at 19 feet, 4 inches.
Maya Khachikian owns the state's top time in the 100-meter hurdles this spring. * Bennett County's O'Neill siblings had a big weekend at last season's Dakota Relays, and there's another sister entering the fold this year. Rush O'Neill cleared 6 feet, 8 inches, to claim the boys high jump title last season, and he was also a 100-meter finalist.
Continue to the original source for the full article.