TIPTON — The varsity boys opened the outdoor portion of the 2023 track season by winning Tipton’s Early Bird Co-Ed meet Tuesday, March 28. The Spartans racked up 51.5 team points, well ahead of 2nd place Mount Vernon (114.5) and third place Central DeWitt (103.83). The host Tigers (66.33), Camanche (54.5), West Branch (50), Maquoketa (49), Cascade (47.5), North Cedar (35), Easton Valley (19), Regina Catholic (16), Midland (15.83), Beckman Catholic (12), and Clear Creek Amana (5) rounded out the field.
Individual First place finishes were posted by Blake Timmons (100m dash, 11.38), Michael Yeomans (800m run, 2:02.61), Brick Kabela (1,600m run, 4:46.72), Ben Kampman (discus, 150-10).
Second place finishes went to Bachus (100m dash, 11.51), Oaken Foster (high jump, 6-02), and Adam Smith (discus and shot put, 157-07 and 47-10.5).
Third place finishes went to Kabela (3,200m run, 10:34.44), Keenan Kruse (400m hurdles, 1:01.15), and Kampman (shot put, 45-05) with a fourth place finish for Jordan Schmidt (long jump, 18-11), sixth place for Charlie Brandt (110m high hurdles, 18.24), and seventh for Austin Knight (200m dash, 24.22), Spencer Michels (3,200m run, 11:22.72), and Carter Grimm (shot put, 44-02.50). Wyatt Applegarth had an eighth-place finish (800m run, 2:15.90 with ninth place finishes by Milo Ashbacker (200m dash, 24.43, Spencer Michels (1,600m run, 5:16.01), and Kotar (110m high hurdles, 19.42). Rounding out the top-ten finishers was Colin Bumsted with a tenth-place finish (3,200m run, 11:28.41).
The Spartan relay teams had a good day with Brayden Moore, Timmons, Knight, and Bachus winning the 4×200 in 1:32.66. Kotar, Brandt, Kruse, and Schmidt were second in the shuttle hurdle relay (1:08.76), Grant Knipper, Ty Bell, Mike Yeomans, and Rhett Mesch were second in the 4×400 (3:38.23), and Yeomans, Grant Bumsted, Applegarth, and Maddox Shipley were second in the 4×800 (8:40.77). Moore, Timmons, Knight, and Bachus posted a tenth-place finish in the 4×100 (49.99).
“We were pleased with the Tipton meet,” said Coach Mark Sovers. “The goals we had for the meet centered around becoming the most complimentary lineup we can be. We know to compete with the best Teams in the WaMaC conference and in Class 3A across the state we will need everyone and the skills and talents they bring to our Team, Balance.”
The highlights of the meet, Sovers said, were: “Field events continue to be a point of emphasis in the role they will play, and I believe they showed their value. We were able to score in all four events and double place in the shot and discus. The first step in creating balance is to become elite in the field events. Middle distance/distance: We competed at a high level in all the events in this area. 3200m run, 4×800, Distance Medley, 800m run, 1600m run and look forward to where the athletes in the distance event group can go and the opportunities ahead for them.”
Last, but not least, “Our relays will play an important role in our lineup and help highlight the depth we have on our Team this year. WE like the starting point of the season and look forward to the level our relays can achieve.”
A Friday, March 31 meet at Vinton-Shellsburg was cancelled due to severe weather.
Upcoming schedule
Thursday, April 6 – Clear Creek Amana invitational. 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 8 – Iowa City West High meet. 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, April 11 – Iowa Valley invitational @ Iowa Valley Elementary School. 4:15 p.m.
Thursday, April 13 – Brady Street Stadium, Davenport. 4:00 p.m.