SOLON — Mike Yeomans started the season with a state indoor title in the 800 meters, running 1:59.07. Yeomans, the school record holder, went nearly a season without bettering the mark. Things changed last Thursday in Solon. With a roaring state qualifying meet home crowd, Yeomans streaked down the home stretch edging his previous marks to win the 800 in a new Solon record 1:58.42, earning a return trip to the State Meet in Des Moines.
Most athletes would celebrate the accomplishment, but not Yeomans. He cracked a quick smile as he was congratulated by teammates but kept his focus on his last event of day, the 4×400 relay. Yeomans anchored that relay to a 3:23.09 win, good enough for a second school record in less than two hours. Seniors Grant Bumsted, Grant Knipper and Rhett Mesch joined in and will accompany Yeomans to the state meet with the third fastest time in Class 3A.
Junior Caleb Bock was the surprise of the night as Solon’s field events will send participants in three events. After an injury riddled season, Bock leaped 22 feet 6.75 inches, shattering the oldest record on Solon’s all-time board. The former long jump record holder, Eric Durr (22-1, 1989) was in attendance and congratulated Bock on the new record shortly after the competition. Bock heads to Des Moines as the Class 3A leader this season.
Other field event qualifiers were senior discus throwers Ben Kampman (1st place, 177-4) and Mason Scott (5th place, 149-5). Senior Marcus Richard will join Kampman in the state shot put field. Kampman, the Class 3A discus leader, threw 52-5 for 4th while Richard’s 51-0 was good for 5th in the shot. The top two performers in each event qualify automatically while the next eight fastest, furthest or highest qualify as wildcards for state competition.
Two Spartan seniors qualified in four events. Senior Brick Kabela breezed to second in the 3200-meter run, then anchored the winning 4×800 meter relay (8:15.69) less than 20 minutes later. He added a runner up in the distance medley before capping his night winning his last ever race at Spartan Stadium, the 1600 meter run in 4:29.18. Spencer Michels will make his first state appearance as a participant on the 4×800 relay with Kabela. He also pulled off Solon’s second big surprise of the night with a Solon sophomore record in the 1600. The 4:35.47 time placed third and earned a wild card spot at the state meet. The time was a 10 second personal best for Michels.
Senior Austin Knight was Solon’s other four event qualifier. Knight took runner up in a couple season bests, the 100 meters (11.14) and 4×100 relay (43.40). He also placed third in the 800-sprint medley and 4×200 meter relays, earning wildcard spots to the state meet. Joining Knight on the sprint medley, 800 meter and 400-meter relays were senior Milo Ashbacker and junior Eli Kampman. Junior Eddie Johnson rounded out the 4×200 team, while senior Brayden Moore rounded out the 4×100 and sprint medley teams.
Solon’s shuttle hurdle unit will be off to Des Moines as well. Seniors Nash Kotar, Ben Duckett and Charlie Brandt teamed with junior Cole Carney to win in 1:00.76. Kotar will also participate in the 110 high hurdles as he clocked 15.64, good for third place and a wildcard entry.
Bumsted, a versatile relay regular, also qualified in the 4×800 (as did Yeomans) and ran a leg in the distance medley to qualify in three events. Seniors Gavin Sieverding and Knipper joined on the medley relay as well. Mesch added wildcard qualifications in the 200- and 400-meter dashes with 4th and 3rd place finishes.
Solon dominated the points battle outscoring Central DeWitt 184-142. Williamsburg was third with 101 in the eight-team field. It was the Solon seniors’ fourth straight win at this meet. The Spartans will be competing for a top three podium position at the Iowa Class 3A State Meet on Drake’s Blue Oval beginning today and running through Saturday May 18.
State Meet information
Thursday, May 16-Saturday, May 18 at Drake University in Des Moines
Tickets – Available online at www.iahsaa.org/tickets, $10/day.
Gates open at 7:30 a.m., events start at 9:00 a.m.
Livestream – www.ihssn.com.
IHSAA State Meet Central – www.ihsaa.org/track-field/state-meet-central/
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Grant Bumsted, a senior, leads off in the state-qualifying 4x800 last Thursday in a 3A District Meet at home. Bumsted qualified for State in three relays.