March 19, 2024

PCM, Colfax-Mingo, CMB track teams compete

PELLA — Prairie City-Monroe’s Mustang girls competed in their first and only indoor meet last Thursday at the Pekin Indoor Track Meet at Central College. The Mustang girls joined the boys and girls teams from Colfax-Mingo and Collins-Maxwell/Baxter in a final indoor meet before the outdoor season begins in April.

PCM’s Lexi Kain won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.88 seconds and the 55-meter dash in 7.42 seconds. Kain anchored three Mustang relay teams to first places.

In the 4x200-meter relay, Kenzie Clarke, Emily Hugen, Ashley Van Gorp and Kain posted a winning time of 1 minute, 53.66 seconds. Jayci Vos, Hugen, Van Gorp and Kain combined to win the 4x400-meter relay race in 4:24.28.

In the 55-meter shuttle hurdle relay, Rachel Gulling, Tatum Schnug, Vos and Kain won in 40.40 seconds. Vos, Gulling, Hugen and Clarke claimed first in the 55-meter shuttle dash relay in 30.47 seconds.

Gulling was third in the 55-meter hurdles in 9.46 seconds. Vos placed fourth in the 55-meter dash in 7.57 seconds and Clarke was fifth in 7.58 seconds. Van Gorp placed third in the long jump with a leap of 14 feet, 11 1/2 inches.

COLFAX-MINGO'S boys and girls had another strong effort in their second indoor meet the past two weeks on the Central College track.

Kayla VanDusseldorp claimed the fifth-place medal in the girls’ shot put with a throw of 31’2”. The 4x200-meter relay team of Jessica Albright, Brianna Cooper, Dakota Hostetter and McKinzie Tjaden earned the third-place medal in 1:55.09.

“While we only earned two medals, we still had an outstanding night. It was an awesome team effort and great to see several girls try some different events,” Colfax-Mingo girls’ head coach Zach Tomas said.

“I am so happy with all the efforts and attitudes from the girls so far this season. We had the fastest 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 indoor times I have ever had as a coach. Also Kayla had the longest indoor shot throw since I’ve been coach.”

Tomas said several Tigerhawk girls improved from last meet  and from last season. He said he was proud of every girl on the Colfax-Mingo team. “I know some great things are going to happen for us,” he added.

The Tigerhawk boys had personal-record times and distances in events last Thursday. Leading the way were seniors James Stoecker and Logan Derry in the shot put, and Stoecker in the 200-meter dash. Junior Jaden Rusk had his past day long jumping, and had bests on the track in the 400 and 1,200-meter races.

“We had excellent effort by numerous relay anchormen at all levels during the meet and numerous personal records by our kids,” Tigerhawk boys’ head coach Matt Barkalow said. “It’s been a great beginning to the season.”

Junior Jimmy Abell had his best indoor times in the 55-meter dash and the 200-meter race. Sophomores putting up personal records were Kyle Breen (200-m), Jake Buehrer (shuttle hurdle relay, 55-m, 400-m), Michael Deal (400-m, 800-m), Lane Dunblazier (200-m, 55-m dash), Colin Lourens (long jump, 800-m) and Blake Summy (200-m). Freshmen Ethan Opfer and Wyatt Owens had strong performances in the shot put.

Barkalow mentioned the anchormen in relays who were able to overtake opponents on the homestretch and defeat other teams at the finish line, including:  Cody Brodka (junior varsity 4x200), Brandon Byal (junior varsity 4x200), Richard Blom (varsity 4x800), Clayton Brown (varsity distance medley; JV 4x400), and Gabe Simpson (varsity 4x400).

“All of the boys have been working incredibly hard and supporting each other,” Barkalow said. “They’re a fun group to coach an we’re excited to move toward warmer weather and our outdoor season.”

FOR CMB, the Raider boys won four events while placing in the top three of 10 events. Raider girls' head coach Jerry Meinerts said "we used this meet more of a practice and allowed a lot of our younger girls compete in events."

Zach Samson and Patrick Girard went 1-2 in the shot put for CMB. Samson won on a throw of 56’1” and Girard was second at 49’6 1/2”. Bryce Kemp was a double individual winner, taking first in the long jump at 20’8 3/4” and in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.63 seconds.

Brady Stover finished third in the long jump with a leap of 18’8 1/2”. Joey Nissen was third in the 55-meter hurdles in 8.53 seconds. Jordan Coughenour and Hunter Gunderson each cleared the high jump bar at 5’10”.

Nissen and Coughenour combined with Austin Moorman and Seth Balke to win the shuttle hurdle relay in 36.49 seconds. The 4x400-meter relay team of Mark Deutsch, Coughenour, Moorman and Kemp places second in 3:43.1.

Colin Thompson, Balke, Coughenour and Deutsch posted a third-place time of 12:39.03 in the distance medley relay race. The 4x800-meter relay team of Gunderson, Deutsch, Balke and Moorman was third in 9:07.9.

“Overall, we were really pleased with our efforts,” CMB boys’ head coach Neil Seales said. “I thought that all of our guys, varsity and junior varsity, again competed hard.  The guys have really practiced hard and it was good to see them make some positive strides in competition over last week’s meet.  We have a ways to go, but our guys are certainly working hard and have a super attitude.   We are making progress as we get ready to begin competing outdoors next week. They are great group to work with.”