Van Buren County’s Lincoln Bainbridge headlined the boys competition out of the four area teams at the Sigourney Relays on Tuesday, April 28th, setting new track and meet records in both the 400-meter dash and the 800-meter run, while Pekin claimed two relay event wins in a dominant showing from their sprint relay unit.
Boys Team Standings
Columbus won the team title with 119 points, followed by Van Buren County with 73, English Valleys with 69, WACO with 61, Sigourney with 56, Pekin with 45, Cardinal with 37, Albia with 35, HLV with 32, Winfield-Mt. Union with 19, Washington with 17, Oskaloosa with 13, Keota with 7, Highland with 4, and Hillcrest Academy with 2.
Van Buren County Boys
Van Buren County placed second in the team standings, led by a dominant individual performance from Lincoln Bainbridge.
Bainbridge turned in one of the most impressive individual performances of the night, fresh off three top-10 Drake Relays finishes last week. Setting new track and meet records at Sigourney in both events, he won the 400-meter dash in 49.19 and the 800-meter run in 1:58.55. Jace Duncan added an event win of his own, claiming the 400-meter hurdles in 59.20.
Kayden Simmons placed fourth in the 100-meter dash in 11.41 and Joni Yoder 24th in 13.67. Jaren Troxel placed fifth in the 200-meter dash in 24.01 and Gavin Noll 15th in 25.62. Landry Loeffler placed sixth in the 800-meter run in 2:10.97.
Landry Loeffler placed second in the 3,200-meter run in 10:15.83 and Sawyer Spiker placed ninth in 11:56.80 and 13th in the mile in 5:46.96.
Parker Boley placed 10th in the 110-meter hurdles in 18.45 and Marion Yoder 12th in 19.32. The shuttle hurdle relay team of Parker Boley, Jaydan Pilcher, Marion Yoder, and Jayce Simmons placed third in 1:11.92.
The 4×100 squad of Jace Duncan, Jaren Troxel, Kayden Simmons, and Lincoln Bainbridge placed third in 44.92, as did the 4×800 group of Gavin Noll, Thomas Roberts, Jackson Meek, and Kayden Farris in 8:56.44. The sprint medley foursome of Kayden Simmons, Jaren Troxel, Jace Duncan, and Lincoln Bainbridge placed fourth in 1:37.09, matching the distance medley unit of Gavin Noll, Aiden Cooper, Jaren Troxel, and Jace Duncan in 3:51.68. The 4×400 crew of Kavin Carter, Jackson Meek, Aiden Cooper, and Thomas Roberts placed fifth in 3:47.99, and the 4×200 quartet of Kavin Carter, Lyrick Krouse, Joni Yoder, and Jayce Simmons placed eighth in 1:44.75.
Jackson Meek placed 11th in the discus at 112-05, Ryder Simmons 18th at 101-06, and Cooper Philp 32nd at 63-03. Kaden Miller placed 14th in the shot put at 35-03.50, Ryder Simmons 21st at 32-08, and Philp 30th at 28-07. Joni Yoder placed 17th in the long jump at 16-09.
Head coach Mike Bainbridge was pleased with how his team performed in a tough field. “I’m really happy with how the guys ran tonight. We knew going into this one that it was going to be a very competitive meet and I thought our guys came in ready to compete,” he said. He also gave a nod to Kayden Simmons, who contributed big points while coming off an injury and having his wisdom teeth pulled the previous week. “Kayden Simmons picked up some big points for us coming off an injury and then getting his wisdom teeth pulled last week so it’s good to see him getting back on track,” Bainbridge said. “Just an overall team effort and I’m very proud of how these guys are working.”
Sigourney Boys
Sigourney placed fifth — the program’s best finish at its own relays — behind strong individual efforts from Troy Klett and Aiden Knepper.
Troy Klett was the most decorated individual performer of the night for the Savages, winning the 1,600-meter run in 4:40.76 and the 3,200-meter run in 10:09.15, with Cole Klett fourth in the 3,200 at 10:47.69 and sixth in the 1,600 at 5:06.83. Knepper claimed the long jump title at 20-09, edging runner-up Hayden Shelman of WACO by just two inches, and the throwers relay group of Aidyn Parker, Levi Jaeger, Graham Moore, and Hunter Sellers captured their event in 51.56.
Lance Walden placed 16th in the 100-meter dash in 12.42 and Carson Davis 20th in 12.88. Carson O’Rourke placed 11th in the 200-meter dash in 25.27 and Walden 17th in 25.81. Jordan Anderson placed 14th in the 400-meter dash in 1:00.56 and Brentley Weldon Kyle 16th in 1:01.99.
Troy Klett placed second in the 800-meter run in 2:03.93, with Levi Myers 18th in 2:24.17 and Isaac Jones 21st in 2:26.59. Brentley Weldon Kyle placed 12th in the 1,600-meter run in 5:36.79. Brayden Wood placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.79.
The distance medley squad of Carson O’Rourke, Aiden Knepper, Brayden Wood, and Cole Klett placed second in 3:45.03, just over one second behind winner WACO. The sprint medley foursome of Carson O’Rourke, Lance Walden, Carson Davis, and Brayden Wood and the 4×800 unit of Levi Myers, Jordan Anderson, Isaac Jones, and Brentley Weldon Kyle both placed seventh, crossing in 1:44.26 and 9:29.06 respectively. The 4×100 crew of Carson O’Rourke, Aiden Knepper, Carson Davis, and Lance Walden placed eighth in 47.89. The 4×200 quartet of Carson Davis, Graham Moore, Levi Jaeger, and Hunter Sellers placed 10th in 1:45.92, and the 4×400 group of Levi Myers, Jordan Anderson, Isaac Jones, and Brayden Wood placed 11th in 4:05.73.
Hunter Sellers placed seventh in the discus at 123-00, Levi Jaeger 24th at 84-10, and Aidyn Parker 25th at 81-10. Graham Moore placed sixth in the shot put at 41-11.50, Jaeger 20th at 33-02, and Parker 28th at 29-02. Sellers placed eighth in the high jump clearing 5-06.
Head coach Jared Jensen described the finish as the program’s best at its own relays. “I thought we competed really well. It was a big meet with 16 boys teams which we use as a precursor to conference and districts. Finishing fifth overall out of 16 quality teams was a great accomplishment. It’s the best we have placed at our Savage Relays. The guys stepped up and competed at a high level, which is what our guys do,” Jensen said.
Pekin Boys
Pekin placed sixth in the team standings, with the sprint relay foursome of Aliyas Brock, Riley Smith, Alijah Brock, and Nolan Glick winning two events and setting a new track and meet record in the sprint medley.
That group set the new mark in the sprint medley with a time of 1:34.69 before winning the 4×100 relay in 43.95 — continuing their strong stretch as a unit after running a personal and school record 43.55 at the Drake Relays last week.
Asaa McCabe and Henry Adam tied for 18th in the 100-meter dash at 12.71. Brody Sobaski placed fifth in the 400-meter dash in 54.11 and Cael Silvers sixth in 54.68.
Cody Silvers placed 14th in the 800-meter run in 2:22.14 and Landon Fariss 22nd in 2:29.56. Cole Millikin placed second in the 1,600-meter run in 4:41.11, just 35 hundredths behind winner Troy Klett of Sigourney, and fourth in the 3,200-meter run in 11:35.69. Fariss placed 14th in the 1,600-meter run in 5:55.77 and Garett Greiner 12th in the 3,200-meter run in 12:37.23.
Jaxon Mefford placed 10th in the 110-meter hurdles in 21.52 and seventh in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:05.94. Cael Silvers placed eighth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:06.25. The shuttle hurdle relay crew of Ryann Hammes, Jaxon Mefford, Ethan Porter, and Keegan Dickey placed sixth in 1:21.68.
The 4×400 squad of Mason Dahlstrom, Brody Sobaski, Cody Silvers, and Lane Fariss placed second in 3:33.16, just over one second behind winner English Valleys, as did the 4×800 unit of Mason Dahlstrom, Cody Silvers, Cole Millikin, and Lane Fariss in 8:21.76 — also beating the previous meet record. The distance medley group of Jaxon Mefford, Henry Adam, Mason Dahlstrom, and Lane Fariss placed seventh in 4:08.76. The 4×200 relay was disqualified after a dropped baton.
Brody Sobaski placed seventh in the high jump clearing 5-08, Colton Harvey 16th at 5-04, and Jaxon Mefford 19th at 5-02. Henry Adam placed seventh in the long jump at 19-04.50 and Keegan Dickey 13th at 17-06.50. Johnathan Delaney placed 14th in the discus at 107-05 and Cowen Weaver 19th at 100-06. Brantyn Sieren placed ninth in the shot put at 40-00 and Weaver 22nd at 31-03.50. The throwers relay quartet of Cal Miller, Johnathan Delaney, Cowen Weaver, and Brantyn Sieren placed seventh in 57.11.
Head coach Davis Eidahl said the team ran and competed well overall, though a dropped baton in the 4×200 was costly. “We ran and competed well, dropped the baton in the 4×200, and dropped 13 seconds in the 4×400. The younger boys are continuing to improve,” he said.
Keota Boys
Keota placed 13th in the team standings, with Ayden Galindo turning in the program’s best individual performances of the night across the high jump, long jump, and sprints.
Galindo placed third in the high jump clearing 5-10, sixth in the long jump at 19-08, and 11th in the 100-meter dash in 12.07. Blake Baker placed 21st in the 100-meter dash in 13.04. Galindo added a 12th-place finish in the 200-meter dash in 25.37, with Dacin Redlinger 21st in 28.55. Rowen Horning placed ninth in the 400-meter dash in 57.56.
Hunter Grandstaff placed 20th in the 800-meter run in 2:25.52 and 11th in the 3,200-meter run in 12:32.25.
The sprint medley foursome of Blake Baker, Chase Haifley, Brycen Horras, and Rowen Horning placed 10th in 1:48.63, and the 4×200 squad of Blake Baker, Chase Haifley, Brycen Horras, and Dacin Redlinger placed 11th in 1:48.65.
Grandstaff placed 14th in the long jump at 17-05.
Head coach Dan Stout said the athletes gave strong efforts given the conditions. “Kids competed hard for the weather conditions. Hopefully we get better weather on Thursday and Friday,” Stout said.
Other Winners
Lamar Ceant of Columbus set a new track and meet record in the 100-meter dash, winning in 11.00, and also claimed the 110-meter hurdles in 14.70, with Alexander Rees of Columbus second in 14.81. Blake Lamansky of Cardinal swept the throwing events, winning the shot put at 47-00.50 and the discus at 141-03. Sean McCulloch of HLV topped the high jump with a clearance of 6-02. WACO won the 4×800 relay in 8:16.15, setting a new meet record, and the distance medley in 3:44.79. English Valleys claimed the 4×400 relay in 3:32.29, and Columbus took both the 4×100 in 45.94 and the 4×200 in 1:37.31.
