The track and field season got underway for several athletes at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn as they competed in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) Indoor Championships held March 7 and 8 at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames.
The boys were up first on Thursday with HMS competing in Class 2A. The best showing was turned in by Jacob Cates who placed ninth in the shot put with a throw of 42’ 4-3/4”. Ryan Grotluschen finished 18th in the 800 meters in 2:13.82. The quartet of Blaine Finster, Easton Teal, Carter Dolphin and Damian Dodge teamed up to run a 10:00.17 time in the 4×800 meter relay, good for 21st. Ethan Wiersma placed 31st in the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 10.78. Three Hawks competed in the 60 meters. JR Araiza finished 40th in 7.80, Caleb Grotluschen 46th in 7.86 and Wiersma 53rd in 8:57.
The girls took over the Lied Center on Friday with HMS among the Class 1A competitors. Megan Otto’s 4’ 7” effort in the high jump placed her 15th. The two Hawk relays each finished 23rd. The sprint medley group of Payton Diehm, Evelyn Steffen, Pam Mutombo and Jocelyn Abonce turned in a time of 2:18.46. In the 4×100 Diehm, Steffen, Otto and Mutombo completed the circuit in a combined time of 58.61. The shot put saw Alexis Grover finish 28th with a toss of 26’ 8-3/4”. Cammy Wilson’s throw of 24’ 1-1/4” placed her 34th. Diehm took part in the long jump and was 31st at 11’ 2-1/2”. The girls 60 meters again included three Hawk competitors. Mutombo was 45th in 9.24, Otto 49th in 9.44 and Diehm 51st in 9.48.