DES MOINES — The Solon Spartans traveled back to the historic blue oval where records have been set, and state titles won. Thursday was a chilly, cloudy morning, but people were warmed with anticipation and adrenaline. As the first race of the day set up – the 3200-meter run – the energy built in the stadium. People found their seats and settled in for a full day of watching the state’s best athletes compete. Once that first starters gun went off , dreams became reality.
Eli Kampman jumped out of his block in the eighth lane of the 200-meter dash preliminaries. In the first heat, his odds were long to make the finals, but Kampman knew to have a chance he would have to race a personal record. When the runners rounded the turn and entered the straightaway where dreams were won and lost, Kampman found himself falling behind the top runners as the crowd’s energy grew.
“Whenever someone makes a move, it’s cool to hear the crowd roar,” said Kampman. However, he was not discouraged. Kampman kept pumping his arms and crossed the finish line in his fastest time as a Spartan. 22.88 seconds. His effort was good enough for 18th place in 3A.
“That was the plan all along,” said Kampman.
From the gun, the boys’ 4×800-meter relay team was stuck in the back. But their goal was never to win the whole thing. After placing third in 3A last season, this year was a year to build experience for the relay team and set them up for success next season.
“We weren’t asking for anything crazy or big time PR’s. We just wanted effort and competition against everyone else in the field,” said Spencer Michels, the anchor leg of the relay. “I think we did that today. We did an amazing job.”
When Michels received the baton from Peyton Raasch, he knew the Spartans were out of competition for the championship. That did not stop his competitiveness. He pushed the team into 19th place overall.
“All I’m doing is looking at the person in front of me and have my eyes on him like a hawk,” said Michels, “I just would not stop looking at him and that’s just what you have to do.”
As for the Lady Spartans, Kate Shafer got things started off on the right foot in the field. Competing in the discus, she placed fourth with a new Iowa #10 at 137’9”. She shattered her previous personal record by seven feet. Also in this event, Piper Johnson placed 17th with a toss of 108’9”.
Jerzey Haluska kicked o her busy weekend with the 400-meter dash. In her first season qualifying in the individual 400-meter race, she had one goal in mind. To get under 59 seconds. Seconds before the starting gun went off , Haluska was set in her block waiting. It seemed like time had stopped. In this moment, she said a short prayer.
“I usually just talk to God and ask for Him to please help me and be there for me throughout this race,” said Haluska.
The moment of silence ended with a bang and Haluska jumped out to a quick start. In an extremely competitive second heat, she found herself right in the middle of the pack rounding the final turn.
“At that point I just try to catch whoever is closest to me,” said Haluska. “I just pump my arms to make my legs go as fast as they can, especially when they’re a little numb at the end.”
Haluska’s competitive strategy pushed her past her Webster City foe and got her across the finish line in 58.93 seconds. A new PR and a season goal complete. Haluska finished in 11th place, only 0.24 seconds away from the top ten. She was the third-fastest underclassmen in the race.
Haluska and both Spartans teams will be back at it again tomorrow on the blue oval. Kate Shafer will throw shotput, and Caleb Bock will compete in the long jump at 9:00 a.m. Then the girls put out their three best relay teams, starting with the sprint medley at 9:20 a.m. featuring Piper Stahle, Grace Hoeper, Reese Hahn, and Falyn Svalstad. The 4×200-meter relay hits the oval at 11:15 a.m. highlighted by Stahle, Hoeper, Marin Ashbacker, and Kobi Lietz. The last event of the day will the girls 4×400-meter dash. The highly anticipated end to Friday’s 3A session will be ran by Quinn Armentrout, Haluska, Hoeper, and Hahn at 1:35 p.m.
“I’m just going to have to do the same thing,” said Haluska. “Fuel my body well, recover well, and keep coming out with that same determination.”
