Indoor exposure ends for Comets

Charles City boys and girls track teams ready for outdoors after NEIC indoor meet

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

Charles City head boys track coach Ryan Rahmiller is grateful that the Northeast Iowa Conference has two indoor meets to start the season.

Though according to the weather forecast, they can probably use some more.

“The indoor season honors those kids who have been going at it since February,” Rahmiller said. “It also gives the younger athletes a taste of competition, and for the others an idea of where they’re at.”

Charles City’s boys and girls T&F teams competed in their final indoor event of the season at the NEIC Meet held Tuesday at Luther College in Decorah.

The Comet boys team got a strong multifaceted performance from senior Shane Feller, who tied New Hampton’s Trevor Ambrose in the 55-meter dash with a first-place time of 6.89 seconds.

Feller also placed second in the long jump (19 feet, 7 inches) ahead of third-place teammate Brandon Bluhm (19 feet, 6 ¼ inches); and teamed up with Bryce Foxen, Adam Steward and Jon Zander to win the 1600 medley relay (3:53.62).

Rahmiller highlighted some other strong performances.

“Gavin Connell ran a great 3200 for us, finishing second to one top runners in the state,” Rahmiller said of Connell’s time of 10:48.38, which was bested by Waukon’s Tyler O’Neill.

“And Mason Deeter placed fourth in a stacked 1600 field.”

The Comet shuttle hurdle relay team of Bryce Foxen, Dylan Koresh, Ryan Zuspan and Jon Zander placed second with a time of 28.77.

“Dylan (Koresh) also did a great job filling in for us in the (4-by-200) relay,” Rahmiller said of the squad also consisting of Bluhm, Nate Baltes and Tyreque Baker, which placed eighth with a time of 1:43.94.

On the girls side, Charles City got a first-place performance out of junior McKayla Cole, who paced the 1500 run with a time of 5:07.89, ahead of teammate runner-up Alysha Bilharz (5:37.71).

“Because of her hard work during the offseason, McKayla is a different runner this year,” Charles City girls coach Darren Bohlen said. “She’s been really focused and fun to watch. She’s going to be tough to beat this year.”

In the 3000 run, Sarah Turpen placed second with a time of 12:18.56.

“That’s a solid time for someone coming off of spring break,” Bohlen said.

In the shot put, Comets Sara Martin and Sydney Loeckle finished second and third, respectively, with throw of 36’ ½” and 33’ 9 ¼”.

“Taylor Schmidt ran a great race in the 55 hurdles,” Bohlen said of the sophomore’s runner-up time of 9.57 seconds.

“She came in second to a girl who placed third at the state finals,” Bohlen said of Decorah’s Olivia Sandvig, “and she was right there with her most of the race.”

Sandvig’s winning time was 9.32 seconds.

Charles City’s shuttle hurdle relay team of Schmidt, Brianna Carey, Charmy Schultz and Sadie Ruzicka, and 1600 medley relay team of Marissa Deeter, Troi Mayhorn, Kennedi Rowlands and Gillian King both placed third with respective times of 35.67 and 4:57.80.

Both Comet teams will open the outdoor season at invitationals at Waverly-Shell Rock on March 31.

“Naturally, going outside opens up some more events for us like the discus and 4-by-100 relay,” Rahmiller said. “We’re no longer limited.”

Boys Track

Northeast Iowa Conference
Indoor Meet

March 22

AT LUTHER COLLEGE

Top Charles City Finishers

Shuttle Hurdle — Bryce Foxen, Dylan Koresh, Ryan Zuspan, Jon Zander (28.77 3rd)

3200 Run — Gavin Connell (10:48.38 2nd)

55 Hurdles — Bryce Foxen (8.96 4th)

55 Dash — Shane Feller (6.89, 1stT), Tyreque Baker (7.39 14th), Trae Lohse (8.72 19th)

200 Dash — Kelly Ward (27.33 12th), Keshaun McComey (28.06 14th), Ryan Hemann (29.89 17th)

1600 Run — Mason Deeter (5:04.41 4th), Tyson Stromer (5:39.74 12th)

4-by-200 Relay — Dylan Koresh, Nate Baltes, Tyreque Baker, Brandon Bluhm (1:43.94 8th)

400 Dash — Hunter Brockney (61.88 5th), Tyson Stromer (73.43 13th)

1600 Medley Relay — Bryce Foxen, Shane Feller, Adam Stewart, Jon Zander (3:53.62 1st)

800 Run — Jon Perez (2:32.84 9th), Isaac Wink (3:03.01 19th), Tyreque Baker (3:11.99 20th)

4-by-400 Relay — Adam Stewart, Jon Zander, Mason Deeter, Gavin Connell (3:55.78 6th)

Shot Put — Ryan Zuspan (34’7” 20th), Dustin Shreve (33’4” 23rd), Josh Halligan (31’9” 25th), Same Niichel (31’8 ¼” 26th), Ben Schwickerath (24’4” 29th).

Long Jump — Shane Feller (19’7” 2nd), Brandon Bluhm (19’6 ¼” 3rd), Matt Meyer (12’7 ½” 17th).

Girls Track

Northeast Iowa Conference
Indoor Meet

March 22

AT LUTHER COLLEGE

Top Charles City Finishers

55 Dash — Jennifer Janse (8.62 15th), Katlyn Marty (10.17, 19th), Rylee Hageman (11.87, 20th).

200 Dash — Hannah Meighan (31.72 9th)

400 Dash — Cinnamon Evans (1:17.80 10th), Kelsey Vsetecka (1:20.02 13th), Kassidy Eggers (1:31.25 20th),

55 Hurdles — Tayler Schmidt (9.57 2nd), Sadie Ruzicka (10.07, 5thT), Brianna Carey (10.14 7th).

800 Run — Whitney Martin (2:37.89 2nd), Hanna Bjelica (2:41.36 3rd), Makayla Nierling (2:48.00 9th).

1500 Run — McKayla Cole (5:07.89 1st), Alysha Bilharz (5:37.71 2nd).

3000 Run — Sarah Turpen (12:18.56 2nd)

High Jump — Sierra Walker (4’6” 4th), Hanna Bjelica (4’4” 5thT)

Long Jump — Shae Etherington (13’5 ¾” 9th), Melany Pleggenkuhle (12’11 ½” 11th), Sydney Keifer (10’11 ½” 17th)

Shot Put — Sara Martin (36’ ½” 2nd), Sydney Loeckle (33’9 ¼” 3rd)

4-by-200 Relay — Shae Etherington, Shay Carolan, Madison Davis, Melany Pleggenkuhle (2:03.59 6th).

4-by-400 Relay — Payton Reams, Tiffany Meyer, Abbie Wilts, Amy Titus (5:44.24 8th)

Shuttle Hurdle Relay — Tayler Schmidt, Brianna Carey, Charmy Schultz, Sadie Ruzicka (35.67 3rd).

1600 Distance Medley Relay — Marrissa Deeter, Troi Mayhorn, Kennedi Rowlands, Gillian King (4:57.80 3rd).