Good thing we grow ‘em tough in Nebraska.
Area track & field athletes needed toughness and perseverance Saturday, braving biting temperatures, howling winds and, finally, moisture to compete in the annual Mansfield Invitational at the Boone Central athletic field in Albion.
There are no team scores kept in the meet, which includes area squads from Boone Central Cedar Rapids, St. Edward, Newman Grove, Lindsay Holy Family, Spalding/Spalding Academy and Fullerton.
Despite the adverse conditions, coaches were pleased their athletes were able to get the season started.
“The weather was not good, but our kids battled the elements and we commend all of them for their efforts,” commented Cardinal Coach Kris Pestel.
“We were able to place in every event we participated in. The girls and boys gave their best efforts and set some good marks to start the season,” she noted. “Overall, as a coaching staff, we were pleased with the effort, but the season is young and there will be better days of weather to compete and produce better performances.
“The kids must continue to have great work ethic to improve in their given specialties.”
As the largest school in the competition, Boone Central racked up an impressive number of placing performances Saturday.
“The girls had multiple placers in eight of 14 events and the boys placed more than one in 10 of 13 events,” Pestel noted. “This shows the depth our teams have.”
Four Cardinal girls scored victories, including junior Megan Bygland. In one of the best duels of the day, Bygland edged Newman Grove’s Shae Wallin in the 100 meter high hurdles (17.6 to 18.0) and Wallin came back to nip Bygland in the 300 meter lows (51.4 to 51.9).
Also winning events for Boone Central were sophomore Bobbi Beckwith in the 100 meter dash (13.3), senior Paige Kolm in the pole vault (6’6”) and senior Emily Wells in the discus (115’). Sophomore Sara Wells gave BC a 1-2 finish in the discus (111’7”).
The Boone Central boys got victories by senior Kalvin Zoucha in the discus (144’6”) and soph Keenan Howell in the pole vault (9’6”). The Card boys also went 1-2 in the discus as junior Michael Schmitz was runner-up (119’11”).
Lindsay Holy Family siblings Andrea and Kevin Weeder were the stars of the ‘09 Mansfield meet. The 2008 Class D state cross country champions swept to five victories in Saturday’s distance races.
Andrea, a freshman, won the girls 800 (2:31.1), 1600 (5:37.5) and 3200 meter runs (11:58.3) and junior Kevin paced the boys 1600 (4:56.1) and 3200 (10:46.9).
Along with the Weeders, two athletes were double winners Saturday. Fullerton’s Ryan Larson took the boys 100 (11.5) and 200 (23.5) meter dashes and Holy Family’s Torie Wiese swept the girls long jump (15’1¼”) and triple jump (33’4”).
Along with the six event victories and the second-place performances of Wells, Schmitz and Bygland, Boone Central had additional runner-up performances by Schmitz (shot put), Cole Luettel (high jump), Zoucha (100, 200), Kevin Carder (1600), Zach Wurdeman (400), Savannah Baker (long jump), Emily Carder (triple jump), Beckwith (200) and Halie Smith (3200).
Area Athletes Brave Elements At Mansfield Invite
