This year’s State Track & Field Meet in Sioux Falls saw record after record being broken by some of the state’s top athletes. It seemed like in every other event there was a new state record holder being crowned. Although, for Jones County’s Adrik Schoon, that was not the case in the 800m. Schoon did not win the event, he actually placed second, first place went to Bridgewater-Emery’s Holden Wollmann with a time of 1:58.84. But Schoon finished just a few strides behind with a very impressive time of 1:59.00. He may not have known it at the time, but that time of 1:59 flat dethroned a school record that had stood for 46 years. More interesting? The runner who held it for that long before him.
While Schoon’s time wasn’t good enough to take home the gold in the event, it was good enough to break the schools record for the 800m, one that had stood in some very good company for nearly five decades. The previous school record of 1:59.57 was held by former Coyote track star, and now U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Thune set this record back in 1979 where it stood proudly until Schoon came along to put his name .57 seconds ahead of Thune’s in the record books.
While it is unclear if Thune was in attendance to support his home states biggest track event of the year, or if he was there because he heard the news, the Majority Leader made sure to single out Schoon and congratulate him on this major accomplishment.
Majority Leader and Schoon after Schoon broke his school record
Thune was walking along the track and passed by the Coyotes tent before Aubrie Norman noticed him passing by and waved him down. Thune saw Norman and said, “I’ve been looking for you guys!” Thune was kind enough to pose for photos with the team, while not only congratulating Schoon but also all of the Coyotes on an incredible season, and a great weekend at State. Even though Schoon took second in the event he broke Thune’s school record in, he did end up finding his way to the top of the podium after he, Thad Kierl, Bryer Kinsley and Asa Best took first in the 4×400 relay event. Thune proudly posed with them as well after that accomplishment.
Thune posing with Schoon, Thad Kierl, Bryer Kinsley & Asa Best
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