Titans Post Strong Finishes at Underwood Invite in Brookings

Tea Area High School track and field team excels at South Dakota State University meet

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold primary colors depicting the overlapping movements and perspectives of a track and field competition.A dynamic, cubist-inspired illustration captures the raw energy and movement of a high school track and field meet.Vermillion Today

The Tea Area High School track and field team turned in several standout performances at the Scott Underwood Invite held at South Dakota State University on Monday, April 6. The girls team was led by Sydney Stahlecker, who captured first place in the 400-meter dash with a meet-record time, while the boys team was highlighted by Dawood Toto's first-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles.

Why it matters

This strong showing at the Underwood Invite is an encouraging sign for the Tea Area track and field program as they prepare for the upcoming Vermillion Booster meet and their first home meet of the season. The team's ability to post multiple top finishes demonstrates their competitiveness and potential for success in the remainder of the season.

The details

On the girls side, Sydney Stahlecker set a new meet record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.11 seconds. Jaycie Babb placed third in both the 1,600-meter run and the 800-meter run, while Brooklyn Reiners had top-eight finishes in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. For the boys, Dawood Toto won the 300-meter hurdles, and Beckett Martens finished second in the 100-meter dash. The team also saw strong relay performances, with the boys 4x100-meter relay taking third place.

  • The meet took place on Monday, April 6, 2026 at South Dakota State University.
  • The Tea Area High School track and field team is scheduled to compete at the Vermillion Booster meet on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • Tea Area will host their first meet of the season on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with action set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

The players

Sydney Stahlecker

A member of the Tea Area High School girls track and field team who won the 400-meter dash with a meet-record time of 57.11 seconds.

Jaycie Babb

A distance runner for the Tea Area High School girls track and field team who placed third in both the 1,600-meter run and the 800-meter run.

Dawood Toto

A member of the Tea Area High School boys track and field team who won the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.31 seconds.

Beckett Martens

A sprinter for the Tea Area High School boys track and field team who finished second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.10 seconds.

Scott Underwood

The namesake of the Underwood Invite, a track and field meet held at South Dakota State University.

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What they’re saying

“This strong showing at the Underwood Invite is an encouraging sign for the Tea Area track and field program as they prepare for the upcoming Vermillion Booster meet and their first home meet of the season.”

— Tea Weekly Staff, Reporter

What’s next

The Tea Area High School track and field team is scheduled to compete at the Vermillion Booster meet on Thursday, April 9, 2026. They will then host their first meet of the season on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with action set to begin at 3:30 p.m.

The takeaway

The Tea Area High School track and field team demonstrated their competitiveness and potential for success this season with their strong performances at the Underwood Invite. The team's ability to post multiple top finishes, including meet records and event wins, suggests they will be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.