Cool Running

Comet boys and girls track teams compete in first outdoor meet of the season

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

WAVERLY — Gavin Connell trained all winter for a day like this.

“It’s way too cold out here,” the Charles City sophomore said of the blustery conditions Thursday evening at the Waverly-Shell Rock Coed Varsity Track and Field Invitation.

“But I trained in weather much colder during the winter,” Connell said. “I’m an outdoors guy … I prefer running outdoors to indoors no matter what it’s like outside.”

In the 3,200-meter run, Connell seized the lead at the start and seemed to heat up every circuit around the track, building his advantage before winning easily with the time of 10 minutes, 38.1 seconds.

“I had high hopes about this race,” Connell said. “I was preparing for it and thinking about it all week.

“Yeah, it was a good run for me. I don’t know what got into me.”

For Connell and the rest of the Comet track program, the invitational was “opening day” for the outdoor season. And some Charles City athletes  — like Connell — got off to a fast start.

The Comets 4-by-800 girls relay team of Hannah Bjelica, Whitney Martin, Bailey Mitchell and Makayla Nierling won their race by clocking in at the same time as Connell — 10:38.

“They dropped 20 seconds in less than a month,” Charles City assistant coach Amanda Rahmiller said of the 4-by-800 relay team. “That’s their best time so far.

“Their improvement comes from training hard.”

The first running event of the invite was the girls 3,000 run, where Comets Alysha Bilharz and Sarah Turpen finished second and third, respectively, to Haylee Luna of Dike New Hartford.

“I like running in cool conditions,” Bilharz said, “but it was maybe a little too cold today.”

Charles City junior Brandon Bluhm was among the early event winners as his leap of 20 feet, 4 inches was the best among long jumpers.