Kimball/White Lake Dominates Bill Pistulka Invite as Area Athletes Post Strong Early Numbers

WINNER, S.D. — When the Bill Pistulka Invitational rolls around each spring, it serves as one of the most reliable early-season barometers for track and field talent across the region. Saturday's edition in Winner, South Dakota, delivered exactly that, with Kimball/White Lake emerging as the clear team to beat and a handful of athletes putting together performances that will demand attention all season long.

On the boys side, Lincoln Kranig of Kimball/White Lake was simply untouchable. The KWL standout claimed victory in both the 100 metres in 11.61 seconds and the 200 in 22.57, then turned around to anchor two winning relay teams. He helped the squad win the 4x100 and 4x200, teaming with Chevy Fees, Rhys Truman, and Carter Konechne on both, and then closed out the sprint medley victory alongside William Brennan, Conner Stahl, and Joseph Skluzak in a time of 4:18.93.

Teammate Darron Moeller added a distance title in the 3,200 metres at 10:52.02 and a runner-up finish in the 1,600. Burke's Elijah Bartling won the 400 in 53.76, while Chamberlain's Xavier Donovan took the 110 hurdles in 16.21. Lyman's Cole Kieffer showed impressive range, winning the high jump at 5 feet 10 inches while also placing second in both hurdle events.

In the field, Winner's throwers were a class of their own. Derek Fenenga won the shot put at 41 feet 10 inches, with teammates Jaxon Day and Mason Curtis taking second and third to complete a clean sweep. Day then turned to the discus and set a new school record, launching the disc 191 feet 6 inches, and also finished second in the javelin. Curtis was runner-up in the discus at 144-9.

On the girls side, Lyman's Brooke Montgomery produced a standout all-around effort, winning the 100 in 12.64 and the 200 in 26.10 while placing second in the long jump. Chamberlain's Grace Phillips was equally impressive, taking the 3,200 in 12:09.05 and holding off the field in the 800 with a winning time of 2:24.98.

Kimball/White Lake's Alli McCord claimed the 1,600 title in 5:45.68 and was second in the 3,200. The hurdles events saw Burke's Daytona Paris win the 100 hurdles in 18.55, while Winner's Madelyn Danford took the 300 hurdles in 51.19.

In the throws, Chamberlain's Piper Powell swept both the shot put at 29-10 and the discus at 130-1. Chamberlain's relay team of Evelyn Bunker, Alexandra Schmiedt, Leah Schmiedt, and Nicole Schmiedt won the 4x100 in 55.04 and placed second in the 4x200.

The meet offered early answers and plenty of reason to keep watching. With several athletes already posting multiple event wins deep into April, the shape of the regional landscape is coming into focus.