May 5—BRIDGEWATER, S.D. — At this time last year, Holden Wollmann was working his way toward a breakthrough at the state track and field championships.
Now with just under a month remaining in his high school career, the Bridgewater-Emery senior hopes he’s building toward something even bigger in 2026: A mid-distance double.
Wollmann, the defending Class B state champion in the boys 800-meter run, is unsurprisingly in the mix for a title repeat this season. But Wollmann has also emerged as a frontrunner for the 400-meter dash title, as well, reinforcing his place on the leaderboards with a standout performance during last weekend’s Dakota Relays at Howard Wood Field.
Wollmann charged to the finish line in 50.30 seconds at the Dakota Relays, good for sixth place at the meet while matching his personal-best time established earlier this season at the Menno Relays on April 16.
“This was a big accomplishment for me since this is all classes and some out-of-state kids, not just Class B,” Wollmann said after the race. “It’s just overall a great feeling.”
Wollmann’s 400-meter time also ranks as the best in Class B this spring by 0.66 seconds and ninth-best in South Dakota overall. According to Wollmann, producing such a mark at a meet like the Dakota Relays can be a springboard toward another wave of improvement over the final weeks of the season.
“It boosts my confidence and shows that I can compete with anyone. It’s nice running this track, too, since this is where we run for state,” Wollmann said. “I feel like this meet can really help shoot me forward and help me see how to improve my times.”
Wollmann, who is committed to continuing his athletic pursuits in track and field as well as football at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, said his ultimate goal is to take down the mid-distance double at the state championships, which run May 28-30, right back at Howard Wood Field. By season’s end, he’s aiming to break the 50-second threshold at 400 meters and come in at 1 minute, 57 seconds, at 800 meters.
With a surge down the homestretch, Wollmann won the Class B boys 800-meter run title by 0.16 seconds over second place last May, finishing in 1:58.84, which still stands as his personal best in the event. It was also his first-ever individual podium finish at a state track and field meet.
“I think that (state 800-meter) race showed what I can do, and it would be nice to get back up there again,” Wollmann said.
So far this spring, Wollmann’s best time at 800 meters is 2:01.33, which ranks second in Class B.
In the field events, Wollmann is also ranked in the top-10 individually for the Class B boys long jump, as his best leap of 20 feet, 11 inches, stands in a tie for eighth.
For good measure, Wollmann is the anchor leg of the Huskies’ Class B third-ranked 4×400-meter relay and 10th-ranked 4×200-meter relay, which both also feature Carter Glanzer, Peyton Roskens and Brady Jager.
“I think I’ve done pretty well so far, maybe a little room to do better in a couple races,” Wollmann said. “But overall, I feel like I’m in a good spot, and I’m happy with where I’m at.”
