Improving HMS girls place fourth at Hawk Relays
The HMS track and field team continues to show improvement, finishing fourth of nine teams at their own Hawk Relays April 23 in Hartley.
The Hawks scored 65 points. Cherokee won the girls division with 157, with Okoboji in second with 110. Sibley-Ocheyedan was third with 81. The Hawks were in fourth, followed by Remsen St. Mary’s with 65, George-Little Rock with 40, Akron-Westfield with 25, Storm Lake St. Mary’s with 20, and Trinity Christian with 15.
HMS started the day with another win in the sprint-medley relay. The team of Anna VanderVeen, Emily Otto, Abigail Otto, and Jasmine Lux ran one of their best times of the year (1:59.89). Lux also added runner-up finishes in the 400 meter (1:02.50) and 200 meter (27.61) dashes. Abigail Otto added a sixth-place finish in the 200 (29.94) and fifth-place finish in the 400 (1:06.72). VanderVeen was also fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:17.54). Emily Otto placed fifth in the 100 meter dash (14.25).
In the distance events, Lexi Croatt ran personal-bests in both of her events, finishing third in the 3,000meter run (12:28.39) and fifth in the 1,500 meter run (5:52.89).
In shot put, Megan Recher finished third (25’ 9”) and Paige Gehrke sixth (23’ 2-3/4”). In discus, Anissa Bush was fifth place (72’ 10”).
The 4×100 team of Lydia Harders, Abigail Otto, Emily Otto, and Lux finished fourth (55.80). In fifth (2:09.50) was the 4×200 team consisting of VanderVeen, Alexa Reed-Clancy, Emily Otto, and Taya Mason. In the girls distance medley relay, VanderVeen, Harders, Ashleigh Vermeer, and Madison Otto finished fourth (5:11.24). The 4×800 team of Vermeer, Mason, Kayla Kathman, and Juliana Pasillas finished fifth (13:33.75).
Coach Nicole Dorhout said the team is finding its rhythm. “This year has been challenging all-around for everyone,” she said, “but we’re starting to figure some things out. We’re getting improved times and distances from almost everyone, which is all we can ask for. We think we have some good prospects for the state-qualifying meet in May.”
The Hawks are looking ahead to hosting the War Eagle Conference Meet on May 3. “We’d encourage people to come out and cheer the teams on,” Dorhout said. “It’s exciting to be hosting a big meet like that, and we’re proud of our Hawks.”