DES MOINES — The Solon boys finished ninth in team points at the 2023 State Track and Field Meet Thursday, May 18 through Saturday, May 20 at Drake University in Des Moines. The Spartans tied with West Burlington/Notre Dame with 25 points. Pella took the Class 3A Championship with 73 followed by Epworth, Western Dubuque (63), Harlan (55), North Polk (47), Mount Vernon (40), Central DeWitt (35), Lewis Central (31), and Xavier Catholic, Cedar Rapids (27). Among fellow WaMaC schools, Marion was 14th (22), South Tama was 15th (21), Center Point-Urbana tied for 34th with Carroll (4), Vinton-Shellsburg tied with Clear Lake and Maquoketa for 38th (2), and Clear Creek Amana tied with Webster City, Bondurant-Farrar, and Assumption Catholic (Davenport) for 41st with one team point apiece.
The Spartans qualified in 17 of 19 events this year after claiming their third-straight District Championship.
Thursday results
Brick Kabela was eighth in the 3,200-meter run while setting a new school record. But it was more than “just” a Solon HS record as it was his dad, Mike Kabela’s, record he broke with a 9:44.70 effort. Charlie Brandt, Cole Carney, Ben Duckett, and Nash Kotar were tenth in the preliminaries of the shuttle hurdle relay (1:02.17), Blake Timmons was 19th in the preliminaries of the 200-meter dash (23.12), Michael Yeomans, Maddox Shipley, Kabela, and Grant Bumsted were 23rd in the 4×800 (8:29.70), Jeremy Bachus was fifth in the 400-meter dash (49.33), Ben Kampman was third in discus with a new school record set in the process (178-05), and Adam Smith was fourth (169-00) while Oaken Foster was 13th in high jump (6-01.00)
Friday results
Caleb Bock was ninth in long jump (21-00.50) and Oaken Foster was 12th (20-07.75). Adam Smith took fourth in shot put (54-10.25) while Marcus Richard was 21st (45-05.50). Milo Ashbacker, Grant Knipper, Grant Bumsted, and Brick Kabela were 18th in the distance medley relay (3:41.81); Brayden Moore, Austin Knight, Jeremy Bachus, and Blake Timmons were 13th in the 4×200 (1:31.70); Keenan Kruse was 19th in the 400-meter hurdles (58.99); Brett White, Moore, Ashbacker, and Nash Kotar were 19th in the preliminaries of the 4×100 (44.68); and Rhett Mesch, Timmons, Michael Yeomans, and Bachus took third in the preliminaries of the 4×400 (3:23.44).
Saturday results
Brayden Moore, Austin Knight, Blake Timmons, and Jeremy Bachus took eighth in the 800-meter sprint medley relay (1:34.36), Michael Yeomans finished 12th in the 800-meter run (1:59.00), Brick Kabela was 14th in the 1,600 (4:31.52), and Rhett Mesch, Timmons, Yeomans, and Bachus took sixth in the 4×400 while setting a new school record (3:23.62).
“It was a great weekend to be a Spartan at the State Track and Field Meet, said Coach Mark Sovers. “As coaches we are proud and full of gratitude to have the opportunity to coach the high quality people in the track and field program. Really proud of our entire team on a great TEAM effort all year long, and it carried over to State. Humility, preparation, and gratitude played a big role in being the best version of who we are; and most importantly, TEAM.”
Coach Sovers expressed his appreciation for the student athletes and coaches who made this a special season.
“Very proud of the way they represented Solon all year long during the season and especially in Des Moines. Capturing and enjoying every moment you are part of will allow you to experience the things you never thought you were able to accomplish,” he said. “Winning is the result of treating people the right way, and the satisfaction of knowing the best version of who I am directly impacted the success of the group.”
It was the final performance for seniors Jeremy Bachus, Oaken Foster, Maddox Shipley, Adam Smith, and Blake Timmons.
“We need to thank our seniors for the positive impact they left on our track and field program and being a shining example of what success looks like each and every day,” Sovers said. “Countless thanks also go out to everyone who supports us along the journey that is the track and field season. We are very grateful to everyone who provides opportunities for us to be successful. One of the great things about this community is there are so many people and groups who are willing to invest in our success. We cannot thank them enough.”
Ben Duckett clears a hurdle Thursday, May 18 in the preliminaries of the Class 3A Shuttle Hurdle Relay at the State Track & Field Meet in Des Moines. Charlie Brandt, Cole Carney, Duckett, and Nash Kotar were tenth in the preliminaries of the shuttle hurdle relay 1:02.17.