MOUNT VERNON — The Solon girls track team opened their outdoor season taking second to the host Mustangs at the Mount Vernon Relays Thursday, March 28. Solon won five events in the eight-team field.
Senior Gracie Federspiel helped with two of the wins striking gold in the 800-meter run (2:23.95) and anchoring the sprint medley relay to a 1:49.40 clocking. The relay time was just under the Drake Relays Blue Standard. She was joined by seniors Mia Stahle and Mia Duckett along with sophomore Aly Stahle. The Stahle trio (Aly, Mia and sophomore Piper) joined Duckett to also win the 4×200-meter relay. The distance medley team won in 4:26.46 (seniors Anna Quillin Hailey Miller, junior Kobi Lietz, sophomore Marin Ashbacker). And last but not least was the 4×100 team of Mia Stahle, Piper Stahle, Duckett and sophomore Marin Ashbacker who clocked a 51.27 missing the Blue Standard by only .27 seconds.
The Lady Spartans had multiple place winners in the 100, 200, and 400-meter hurdles. Piper Stahle eked out a second-place medal with freshman Avery Kellen running third (both timed 13.55). Kellen also placed 6th in the 200 (28.64) behind Ashbacker’s 3rd place clocking (27.47). Youngsters Trea Eidahl (so.) and Keegan Kleppe (fr.) took 2nd and 6th in the 400 hurdles (1:14.14 and 1:21.09).
Junior Syd Dee dropped her season best 1500-meter time to 5:09.92 placing third. She also teamed with senior Ashlyn Williams, sophomore Ava Rowles and junior Grace Hoeper to finish runner up in the 4×800 meter relay (10:16.76). Solon’s shuttle hurdle team of Aly Stahle, Mia Stahle, Eidahl and Junior Zoey Grimm also placed well finishing third in 1:14.30. Freshman Jerzey Haluska was 5th in the 400-meter dash (1:04.02) and teamed with Lietz, Hoeper and Quillin to take runner up in the 4×400-meter relay (4:18.31). Although not eligible to score, the 4×400 “B” squad of freshmen Falyn Svalstad and Lainey Hinkle, Rowles, and Miller earned 4th place (4:25.93).
The field events also provided valuable points with discus throwers Kate Shafer (jr.) Abigail Fenton (sr.) placing second and third (107-0 and 103-2). Fenton added a silver medal in the shot put with a 35-4 1/2 effort. Senior Lily Towne added a fourth-place finish in the high jump clearing 4 feet 8 inches.
Upcoming events
The Lady Spartans were to compete in Williamsburg Tuesday (April 2), but due to weather that meet was postponed until Monday, April 15. Weather permitting Solon will run at Pleasant Valley Thursday (April 4), Tiffin (Clear Creek Amana) Friday (April 5), and Davenport Assumption Saturday (April 6).
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