Several track and field athletes at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn began their season in competition at the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) Indoor Championships held March 13 and 14 at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames.
The HMS boys were in town on the 13th, competing in Class 1A. The 4×800 unit of Blaine Finster, Damian Dodge, Carter Dolphin and Ryan Grotluschen placed 12th in a time of 9:41.53. Alex Billings put the shot 36’ 10-1/2” to finish 28th. Caleb Grotluschen was 43rd in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.89.
It was the girls’ turn on the 14. Also competing in Class 1A, the Hawks placed 19th in the 4×100 meter relay courtesy of Payton Diehm, Eva Stammer, Keely Ebel and Pamela Mutombo. Their time was 57.63.
Both the 4×400 relay and the sprint medley relay finished 23rd. The 4×400 team was composed of Laura Vargas, Evelyn Steffen, Kamryn Ebel and Keely Ebel. Their time was 4:54.75. Completing the sprint medley in 2:18.03 were Stammer, Diehm, Megan Otto and Kamryn Ebel.
The 60 meter dash saw Keely Ebel place 28th in 8.90, Mutombo finish 40th in 9.25 and Payton Diehm come in 41st in 9.33. Hannah Tessum was 29th in the shot put with a throw of 26’ 2-1/4”.