MARION — On a cool, windy evening, Solon’s girls posted a third place finish against a strong Class 4A, 3A field, in Linn-Mar’s Clark Weaver Invitational track and field meet, April 12 in Marion.
Pleasant Valley won the 14 school meet, with 156 points. Host Linn-Mar was runner-up with 109. Solon—a 3A school, facing a mostly 4A opponents at this one, placed in 16 of the 19 events–closing with 99 points. Cedar Falls followed with 72.5. From there, it went; Dubuque Hempstead 69, Iowa City Liberty 68, Cedar Rapids Prairie 47, Marion 37, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 34.5, Davenport Assumption 24, Cedar Rapids Washington 14, Linn-Mar 6, Waterloo East 5. Cedar Rapids Jefferson (no points) rounded out team totals.
Aly Stahle’s 26.47 was fourth in the 200 meters. Grace Hoeper was sixth in the 400 (1:04.05). Mia Stahle grabbed sixth in the 100 hurdle (16.96). Solon picked up major boosts with second place points from Mia Duckett (12.42 seconds) in the 100, Gracie Federspiel (2:18.15) in the 800, and four relays: the 4×100 (50.43), 4×200 (1:45.73), 4×400 (4:02.77), and 4×800 (9:51.65).
“In the field events. We had a great night,” said head coach Jessica Hotek. “Kate Shaffer’s discus mark and Hailey Miller’s long jump. That matched her best,” she recounted. Miller stretched the tape to 16-7½ in the long jump. Lilly Towne’s 5-1 was good for fourth in the high jump. Kate Shafer powered the discus 121-07 for third place; with teammate Abby Felton (110-09) backing her in sixth place. On the track, sprinter Mia Duckett had success; with her second place in the 100 meter dash, and her role on the sprint relays. “It’s good to watch how close she is getting to Asia Russell of Prairie,” said Hotek. “The 4×400 team hit the blue standard. The 4×800 matched their season best time too.”
That’s especially true as the Drake Relays approach. Athletes are pushing to hit the ‘Blue Oval Standard’ to run at Drake..
Weather permitting…the Lady Spartans were slated for meets Tuesday and Thursday this past week…still hoping to drop their times to meet the Drake Relays ‘Blue Oval Standard’, to compete at the Athletic Classic in Des Moines.
Other results – Shot put – 5, Abigail Felton, 34-03.25. 400 dash – 6, Grace Hoeper, 1:04.50. 100m hurdles – Mia Stahle, 16.96. Discus – 6, Felton, 110-09. 1500 run – 10, Sydney Dee, 5:25.53. 400m hurdles – 10, Trea Eidahl, 1:14.33. Shot put – 10, Reese Grimm, 31-08.25. 800 run – 11, Ava Rowles, 2:32.78. 400 dash – 12, Falyn Svalstad, 1:08.33. 3000 run – 12, Svalstad, 12:33.93. 13, 100 dash – Avery Kellen, 13.38. 1500 run – 13, Mya Fordice, 5:33.01. 100m hurdles – 15, Zoey Grimm, 18.20. 3000 run – 17, Ella Sheeley, 13:04.72. 200 dash – 18, Jerzey Haluska, 28.88. Long jump – 20, Haluska, 13-06.75.
Anna Quillin reaches for outgoing teammate Grace Hoeper, the third leg in the 4x800 relay, April 12 at Linn-Mar. Hoeper delivered the baton to anchor Gracie Federspiel 2:32 later leading to a second-place finish in the 14 team meet. Solon's girls finished third overall.