SOLON– “One of the areas we are always looking to grow in this year continues to be the idea to ‘Not Flinch,’” Head Coach Mark Sovers said. “Realize in competition, focus is best spent on the present moment– your actions. We were able to move closer to that competing at Camanche.”
The Solon boys’ track and field team finished in the bronze position on the podium at the Indian Relays held at Camanche High School on Tuesday, May 4.
Central DeWitt finished first with 171 team points, host Camanche placed second with 132 and Solon finished third with 126. The Spartans bested Easton Valley (88), Midland (85) and Bellevue (24).
“Our team was led by the performance of our field events (with) 39 total points,” said Coach Sovers.
“Discus first-place Ben Kampman 119-1.50, fifth-place Jackson Clevenger 105-01; shot put fourth-place Kaleb Behrends 39-01.50; long jump second-place Brett White 18-09, third-place Nash Kotar 18-09; (and) high jump second-place Oaken Foster 5-08, third-place Jeremy Bachus 5-04,” he rattled off.
The Spartans were equally impressive on the track, revealing the consistency Sovers emphasized all season.
“We were pleased with how we went out and competed on the track,” he emphasized. “Each time we go out we look to ‘Spartan up’ and continue to grow as individuals. This has been happening on and off the track. We look at each experience as a growth opportunity and Camanche was another positive step on our journey.
“Highlights on the track (were) Nash Kotar’s third-place in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, Charlie Brandt second-place finish in the high hurdles and third-place in the shuttle,” he tabulated. “Distance Medley Relay Brent Lumpkin, Fischer Harrison, Grant Knipper (and) Rhett Mesch second-place (and) 4×400-meter relay Rhett Mesch, Zach Capper, Brett White (and) Noelan Garbes second-place.”
The Spartan track and field team was equally impressive on Thursday, May 6, at the WaMaC Conference Super Meet, held at Independence High School, capturing third place on the podium with 105 team points, bested only by Clear Creek Amana’s first place with 144 and Marion’s 119. Solon bested Benton Community (77), Center Point-Urbana (58), Mount Vernon (50), Independence (47), West Delaware (33), Williamsburg (26), South Tama (24), Beckman (20), Vinton-Shellsburg (19) and Maquoketa (13).
“What a day, what a life, what a meet,” Head Coach Mark Sovers praised. “We were pleased with the way we went out and competed with a very balanced and competitive WaMac field of teams.”
“It provides you with the chance to see where you are versus where you think you are,” he added.
The team balance continued the theme of complementary track and field, he said.
“Value the role each and everyone plays and don’t flinch in the moment,” he explained. “To be able to go out and score the way we did at the WaMaC is a credit to our athletes. They continue to trust the investment they have made in themselves and each other this year.”
Coach Sovers emphasized the bedrock of the Spartans’ team success this season building on the distance events.
“Our distance events continue to not flinch in the moment and provide with great leadership and examples of trusting the process and competing with the best version of who they are,” he summarized.
He cited, “4×800-meter relay, Ben DeValk, Ty Becicka, Michael Yeomans (and) Tyler Bilskie, 8:34 a personal record; 800-meter run fourth-place (by) Ben DeValk, 2:04.71; fifth-place Tyler Bilskie (in) 2:08.35; (and the) 1,600-meter run fourth-place Ben DeValk (in) 4:40.99.
“(The) 4×400-meter relay (by) Blake Timmons, Brayden Rickertsen, Bo Janssen (and) Jeremy Bachus (in) 3:32.27, a personal record third-place,” he continued.
Sovers also praised the runner-up performances attributing to the bronze showing at the conference’s super meet.
He cited, “WaMac Conference Runner up Events: Zach Harp, discus 146-7; Colton Hoffman, high jump, 6-0; Brayden Rickertsen, 400-meter dash, 51.60; Brady Mullen, high hurdles, 16.34; (and the) 4×200-meter relay (of) Blake Timmons, Trin Eidahl, Jacob Timmons (and) Colton Hoffman, 1:33.4.”
The Spartans competed in the Junior Varsity (JV) WaMaC meet on Monday, May 10, at 4:30 p.m. at Beckman Catholic High School. Thursday, May 13, Solon’s Spartan Stadium hosts the boys’ varsity state track and field qualifier starting at 4:30 p.m.
Coach Sovers welcomes the upcoming opportunities for the athletes.
“Continue to invest in the success of our teammates as we move forward,” he said. “We are looking forward to the next step in our journey to not flinch on and off the track. The competition at the JV WaMaC meet and the State Qualifying meet will provide the opportunity to bring out the best in us. We all believe the best version of who we are is very close. With confidence, we look forward to what lies ahead and the goals in front of us.”
Camanche High School Indian Relays results Tuesday, May 4, courtesy of AccuRace Timing Services: Team- 1. Central DeWitt 171, 2. Camanche 132, 3. Solon 126, 4. Easton Valley 88, 5. Midland 85, 6. Bellevue 24.
100m- 3. Nash Kotar 12.05 (6), 10. Jace Janssen 13.59.
200m- 3. Nash Kotar 24.55 (6), 7. Brent Lumpkin 25.67 (2).
400m- 7. Ben Duckett 1:04.49 (2), 10. Noah Kottenstette 1:13.74.
800m- 7. Gabe Nicholson 2:44.15 (2).
1600m- 5. Grant Bumstead 5:44.01 (4).
110m hurdle- 2. Charlie Brandt 19.18 (8).
400m hurdle- 5. Oaken Foster 1:03.16 (4), 6. Keenan Kruse 1:04.21 (3).
4×100 relay- 5. Quinton Hieneman, Wyatt Olsen, Quinn Felderman, Jeremy Bachus 50.02 (4).
4×200 relay- 3. Brett White, Rhyse Wear, Oaken Foster, Jeremy Bachus 1:38.36 (6).
4×400 relay- 2. Rhyse Wear, Rhett Mesch, Ty Becicka, Tyler Bilskie 3:57.74 (8).
4×800 relay- 3. Ty Becicka, Noelan Garbes, Grant Bumsted, Brick Kabela 10:12.57 (6).
4×800 SMR- 5. Brayden Moore, Grant Knipper, Austin Knight, Gavin Chhabra-Miller 1:42.79 (4).
DMR- 2. Brent Lumpkin, Fischer Harrison, Tyler Bilskie, Rhett Mesch 4:12.61 (8).
4×110 SHR- 3. Ben Duckett, Brett White, Thomas Brandt, Nash Kotar 1:14.47 (6).
High jump- 2. Oaken Foster 5-08.00 (8), 3. Jeremy Bachus 5-04.00 (6).
Long jump- 2. Brett White 18-09.00 (8), 3. Nash Kotar 18-09.00 (6).
Shot put- 4. Kaleb Behrends 39-01.50 (5), Reese Trepanier ND.
Discus- 1. Ben Kampman 119-01.50 (10), 5. Jackson Clevenger 105-01 (4).
WaMaC Conference Super Meet results, Independence High School Thursday, May 6, results courtesy of Kauder Racing:
Team- 1. Clear Creek-Amana 144, 2. Marion 119, 3. Solon 105, 4. Benton Community 77, Center Point-Urbana 58, 6. Mount Vernon 50, 7. Independence 47, 8. West Delaware 33, 9. Williamsburg 26, 10. South Tama 24, 11. Beckman 20, 12. Vinton-Shellsburg 19, 13. Maquoketa 13.
High jump- 2. Colton Hoffman 6-0 (8), 6. Oaken Foster 5-8 (3).
Long jump- 8. Brett White 18-8 (1), 9. Parker Pentico 18-4.5.
Shot put- 3. Zach Harp 50-6 (6), 10. Nash Altman 41-11.5.
Discus- 2. Zach Harp 146-7 (8), 15. Adam Smith 116-5.
800m SMR- 3. Trin Eidahl, Colton Hoffman, Brayden Rickertsen, Blake Timmons 1:36.95 (6).
3200m- 11. Brick Kabela 11:17.35.
4×800 relay- 3. Ben DeValk, Tyler Bilskie, Ty Becicka, Michael Yeomans 8:34.62 (6).
Shuttle hurdle- 4. Jackson Ryan, Brady Mullen, Nash Kotar, Brady Jeworrek 1:06.89 (5).
100m- 6. Colton Hoffman 11.66 (3), 13. Danny Knezevich 12.14.
DMR- 5. Sean Stahle, Michael Pipolo, Rhyse Wear, Michael Yeomans 3:58.77 (4).
400m- 2. Brayden Rickertsen 51.60 (8), 10. Jeremy Bachus 53.88.
4×200 relay- 2. Blake Timmons, Trin Eidahl, Jacob Timmons, Colton Hoffman 1:33.46 (8).
110m hurdles- 2. Brady Mullen 16.34 (8), 6. Brady Jeworrek 16.98 (3).
800m- 4. Ben DeValk 2:04.71 (5), 5. Tyler Bilskie 2:08.35 (4).
200m- 6. Blake Timmons 23.70 (3), 9. Brayden Rickertsen 23.99.
400m hurdles- 13. Bo Janssen 1:01.89, 16. Oaken Foster 1:04.11.
1600m- 4. Ben DeValk 4:40.99 (5), 9. Tyler Bilskie 4:59.46.
4×100 relay- 4. Trin Eidahl, Danny Knezevich, Grant Gerdin, Brady Jeworrek 45.54 (5).
4×400 relay- 3. Blake Timmons, Brayden Rickertsen, Bo Janssen, Jeremy Bachus 3:32.27 (6).