SOLON — The Solon boys track team opens their 2024 campaign today (March 7) in Ames at the Iowa State Indoor Championship. The 2023 WAMAC champions set seven school records and capped the season scoring 25 points and earning a 9th place finish at the 2023 3A state meet. Head coach Mark Sovers sees no let down coming this year. “With 28 returning letter winners, I think we are ready to take the next step.” Assistant coach Pat Parysz agrees. “We have the depth to move from top-ten last year to top-five this season. We have the senior leadership and some very talented young sprinters I think can make an impact.”
Leading the way in 2024 will be Duke University commit Ben Kampman, school record holder in the discus (178-5). Kampman was a 2023 Drake Relays qualifier, WaMaC champion, and 3rd place finisher at the class 3A state meet. Teaming up with Kampman in the field events is junior Caleb Bock, a 2023 state qualifier in the long jump. Bock just missed a state medal finishing 9th at the state meet (21-5) less than a foot off the Solon all-time best mark. Senior Marcus Richard was a state qualifier in the shot put and will be looking for his first state medal this season. Junior Cole Carney, a newbie long jumper last season, showed plenty of promise and could compete for a state medal as well.
Leading the running events are seniors, Brick Kabela and Mike Yeomans. Each qualified for 3 events at the 2023 state meet. Kabela broke school records in the 1600 (4:31.5) and 3200 (9:44.7) meter runs at the state meet , earning the 8th place medal in the 3200. Yeomans, a 400 and 800 meter specialist, took down the all-time Solon mark in the 800 (1:59.0) last season. Both will be looking for their first Drake Relays appearance this season. Coach Mark Sovers sees potential for two more school records to fall as the duo could be teamed up in the 4×800 and distance medley relays. “For us to take the steps we truly want in 2024, Brick and Mike will need to lead the way individually and in the relays. It’s certainly our deepest group, 800 and distance runners”.
Looking to team up with Kabela and Yeomans in the 4×800 are sophomore Spencer Michels and a pair of seniors, Grant Bumsted and Wyatt Applegarth. Bumsted anchored Solon’s fastest distance medley squad in 2023. Michels, a top cross country performer last fall, will also pair with Kabela to make a formidable duo in the 3200 and 1600 runs.
The senior depth is plentiful with Nash Kotar, Charlie Brandt and Ben Duckett teaming with Carney to return last year’s entire 3A 10th place and school record breaking shuttle hurdle team (1:01.92). Duckett and senior Keenan Kruse, a 2023 state qualifier, are slated to run the 400 meter hurdles.
Leading the sprint corps are seniors Austin Knight and Rhett Mesch. The two teamed with departed seniors Blake Timmons and Jeremy Bachus to etch their names into Solon’s record book with a 6th place effort in the 4×400 meter relay (3:23.4) at the 2023 state meet. The two have been relay stalwarts for Solon the past two seasons along with senior Brayden Moore, who teamed with Knight, Bachus and Timmons to set the all-time WAMAC mark in 800 sprint medley relay (1:33.44) at last year’s conference meet and making the final at the 3A state meet.
“We are excited for the 2024 season and the chance to take that next step to be the best version of who we can be,” said Sovers.
“We know we can achieve the high goals this group has. We are the team to beat in the WaMaC. If we can develop the younger guys and fill out the lineup, the sky is the limit in Des Moines,” Parysz added.
Nash Kotar flies toward the finish line in the anchor leg of the shuttle hurdle relay Tuesday, April 18 in the Denny Gruber Co-Ed Relays. Charlie Brandt, Cole Carney, Keenan Kruse, and Kotar won in 1:04.48.