MOUNT VERNON — Jerzey Haluska stood at the start of the handoff zone for the 4×400-meter relay, eagerly awaiting the baton. Quinn Armentrout led off for the Lady Spartans and found herself right around fifth place, grouped in the middle pack. Haluska had already placed on the podium once before this meet – placing third in the 200-meter dash (27.68 seconds) – but she was hungry for more and was ready to chase after the lead.
“It really helps me when I need to catch somebody,” said Haluska.
Haluska grabbed the baton from Armentrout and from that moment on it was all Haluska.
By the time she finished her leg and handed the baton off to her teammate, Grace Hoeper, Solon was out in front by a comfortable six second lead. One that Hoeper and Kobi Lietz would hold on to for the first-place finish in 4:10. The win at the Mount Vernon Relays on Thursday, April 3, would secure Solon a third-place finish as a team, behind Marion and Mount Vernon.
“She definitely ran her best 400 of her life right there,” said Solon head coach Jessica Hotek, “I’m excited to see what improvements she will be able to make and how she will grow into a leadership role the rest of the season.”
Of course, track fans across the state of Iowa know the Haluska name well. Haluska’s father, Adam Haluska, is a legend in the track community, having won the Most Outstanding Performer award at two state championship meets, including one of the most dominant performances in Iowa high school track history when he won four individual state titles in 2002. Now, he helps his daughter Jerzey Haluska as she begins her quest to etch her name into the record books.
“He’s just really motivated me and has helped me with my workouts,” said Haluska, “It’s always nice to have someone like that to look up to.”
Hoeper and Armentrout kicked off the Lady Spartan dominance in the 400 during the individual race earlier in the meet. Both girls set a new personal best and Hoeper pulled out the victory, with Armentrout following closely behind for a third-place finish. Hoeper ran a 1:03.41 and Armentrout ran a 1:03.69.
The shuttle hurdle relay team won in dominating fashion. Alessandra Stahle, Cydney Jaster, Keegan Kleppe, and Zoey Grimm were placed in heat one of two, the slower of the pair. But that did not matter to them. They took the lead in their heat right out of the blocks and never looked back, crossing the line in 1:11.09. That time ended up being 0.1 seconds faster than the winner of heat two, Benton.
The Lady Spartans’ field events also showed out at the Mount Vernon Relays. Kate Shafer placed second is the discus, throwing it 117 feet. Sophia Miles also nabbed silver in the high jump by jumping over the 4’10” crossbar on her second try.
“It’s good to get the first outdoor meet out of the way. Get some of those jitters out,” said Hotek, “I’m excited to see what we can accomplish and hopefully we can get a few things qualified for the Drake Relays.”
The Lady Spartans travel to Tiffin for Clear Creek Amana’s Jane Astor Relays Friday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m. and will compete in the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival at Iowa City West high Saturday, April 12 at 10:30 am. And also at Assumption Catholic’s Girls Track and Field Invitational in Davenport at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 15 Solon will run in Prairie High School’s Schwarz-Hawkins Relays with field events starting at 3:45 p.m. and running events at 4:30 p.m.