DES MOINES– The Solon Spartans track and field team finished 33rd in the Class 3A team rankings at the 2022 State Track Meet held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines following three days of competition, May 19-21.
Dallas Center-Grimes championed the meet with 73 team points, followed by Pella (71.5), Newton (50), Washington (44), Marion (38), Epworth (36), North Polk (30), Carlisle (27), Dubuque Wahlert (24), Clear Creek-Amana (24), Xavier (22), Waverly-Shell Rock (21), Adel (20), Iowa Falls-Alden (20), LeMars (18), Charles City (18), Mount Vernon (15), Bishop Heelan (15), Fairfield (14), Decorah (13), Lewis Central (11), Winterset (11), Benton Community (11), MOC-Floyd Valley (11), Webster City (10), Central DeWitt (10), Nevada (8), South Tama County (8), Center Point-Urbana (7), Humboldt (6), West Burlington (6), Sioux Center (6), Boone (5), and the Spartans with five points. The Spartans outshined Harlan (5), Spencer (5), Fort Madison (4), Maquoketa (4), Storm Lake (2.5), Mount Pleasant (2), Algona (2), Bondurant-Farrar (2), Independence (2) and Boyden Hull-Rock Valley (1).
Head Coach Mark Sovers used @SolonBoysTrack on Twitter to keep Spartan Nation apprised of the State Qualifiers’ success.
He posted May 19, “What a day…. What a life…. What a race… Jeremy Bachus runs a big PR and places 4th in the Class 3A 400m Dash. #NFM #pround,” accompanying a photo of Bachus sporting his medal. Bachus led the Spartans with a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash clocking a 49.74, a new personal record.
The 4×400-meter relay combination of Austin Knight, Bachus, Rhett Mesch and Jacob Timmons claimed a school best time of 3:28.62 and a tenth-place showing. A post on May 20 by Sovers recognized, “Definition of Response: The 4×4 Team ending the day with a PR and almost a school record performance finishing 10th in the Class 3A 4×400 relay. Austin Knight, Jeremy Bachus Rhett Mesch, Jacob Timmons your Response mattered. #NFM.”
A picture of the shuttle hurdle team accompanied Sovers’ post on May 19 hailing, “What a day. What a life. What a race. The Shuttle Hurdle team kicks off the state meet with a no flinch performance coming in at the 24th seed and finishing 13th. #feelthenoise.” The quartet of Nash Kotar, Charlie Brandt, Cole Carney and Brady Mullen collected the 13th position in the state standings, running a 1:03.21.
Brady Mullen ran a 15.89, a new personal record, finishing 17th in the 110-meter hurdles. Sovers acknowledged the accomplishment with a May 20 post, “What a Day… Proud of you Brady Mullen and grateful for your investment in yourself and our TEAM. Finishes 17th in class 3A High Hurdles. #FCFS.”
Michael Yeomans’ 2:03.65 was a new personal best in the 800-meter run placing him 19th in the state. Holding true to previous acknowledgements, Sovers praised Yeomans’ performance on May 22, “What a Day.. What a Life…What an 800. Congratulations to Michael Yeomans on finishing with a PR and 19 in class 3A. Makes you smile. #FCFS.”
The distance medley relay collective of Grant Gerdin, Jacob Timmons, Austin Knight and Ty Becicka ran a 3:46.52, finishing 19th in the state. Sovers took to Twitter once more on May 20 touting, “What a Day…What a Life… Distance Medley Team of Grant Gerdin, Jacob Timmons, Austin Knight and Ty Becicka finish 19th in class 3A. Proud of you and glad you are on our TEAM #FCFS.”
Adam Smith heaved the shot put 47-0.25, also a new personal best, to claim 20th in the state. Sovers praised on May 20 with a Tweet, “Proud of our Team. All year long we strive for the most complimentary Track and Field Team. Congratulations Adam Smith on a great year finishing in the top 20 in The class 3A Shot Put. #FCFS.”
Statistics for the Iowa Girls and Boys State Track Meet are courtesy of Wayzata Results dated May 19-21.