Strong start for boys track team

by Michelle Watson

The Clear Lake boys track team competed against some tough competition at the Indian Relays, held at Indianola Stadium in Indianola, on Thursday, April 1.  Due to a regular season cancellation, the Lions were a late addition to the meet.   The Lions finished sixth out of eight teams with 53 points.  Waukee won the meet with 180 points, followed by Indianola with 115.50 points.

“The guys were excited to be able to officially compete in a season after more than a year off.  There was a high level off quality teams and athletes that we don’t normally see and we held our own with some of the best in the state,” said Head Coach Troy Tysdahl.

The Lions had a couple of relay teams that did very well at the meet.  The highlight was the Distance Medley team of Jordan Bergman, Jakob Myers, Tanner Reimann and Justin Wright winning the event in 3:47.82.  The shuttle hurdle team also had success, finishing in second place with a time of 1:07.22.  Competing in the race were Zeke Nelson, PJ Feuerbach, Jack Crane and Tyson Cooley.

“Justin Wright anchored the Distance Medley to a win with a great 800 split and then he placed third in the open 800 with a very good time, especially for this early in the season,” said Tysdahl.  “Jagger Schmitt ran a good 400 race and we had two long jumpers, Tanner Reimann and Jagger Schmitt go over 20’ for the first time in a long time.  Tyson Cooley looked good in the high jump and placed second.”

Tysdahl said that getting more points out of the field events is a goal for the team this season.

Tyson Cooley was the highest individual winner.  Cooley finished as runner-up in the high jump by clearing 5’8”.

Clear Lake had two events that earned third place finishes.  Jagger Schmitt ran the 400 meter dash in 52.30.  Justin Wright ran the 800 meter run in 2:02.54.

Other events that finished in the top six included:

•400 M Hurdles: Nelson, sixth, 1:01.91

•Long Jump: Reimann, fourth, 20’4” and Schmitt, sixth, 20’1”

•4x200 M Relay: Jay Kapler, Aidan Manemann, Jaden O’Brien-Green, Austin Warnke, fourth, 1:37.28

•4x400 M Relay: Reimann, Crane, Nelson, Wright, fourth, 3:38.39

•4x100 M Relay: Green-Harrington, Kapler, Myers, Warnke, sixth, 47.18

•Sprint Medley: Green-Harrington, Bergman, Schmitt, O’Brien-Green, sixth, 1:44.51