Comet jumpers shine at NEIC Indoor Track and Field Meet

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

DECORAH — If this were a slam-dunk contest, she may have won over the judges and fans.

But this was a cut-and-dried high jump competition that paid no reverence to style points or handicap scoring adjustments to cater to the shorter jumpers.

At the Northeast Iowa Conference Indoor Track and Field Meet held, ironically, during the first day of spring (March 19) at Luther College, Charles City freshman Edie Collins was able to clear a height — 4 feet, 10 inches — much greater than her own. Impressive considering the degree of difficulty, but it was only good enough for third place.

Two-time state runner-up and multiple Drake Relays qualifier in the girls high jump, senior Keely Collins (Edie’s older sister) was also in the house. Almost needless to note, Keely — Charles City’s school record-holder in the HJ — placed higher than her younger and shorter sister at the meet. Yet there was a juncture in the competition where an inter-family upset … or possible tie … was in the making.

After both sisters cleared 4-10, they both scratched twice at 5-foot even. Edie, who almost cleared the height on her second attempt, was eliminated when she missed her third attempt. Keely, also facing elimination on her third attempt, was able to clear 5-0 and then 5-2 before scratching three times at 5-4.

Waukon senior Cameron Johnson also topped off at 5-2, but was awarded first place over Keely Collins based on fewer misses at previous heights.

In what has remained a tradition at Charles City despite the retirement of longtime assistant coach Eric Hoefer who worked with multiple state HJ champion Ian Collins (brother of Edie and Keely) and last year’s long jump state champ Josiah Cunnings, the Comets still have wings as indicated by their flights within Luther’s Kirk Neubauer Indoor Track venue.

Cunnings won the boys LJ with a small orbit of 20 feet, 7 3/4 inches while placing ahead of Decorah’s Kaiden Quandahl (19-10 1/2) and Comet senior Keenan Wiley (19-02).

In the boys HJ, Charles City junior Kaden Littleton won the event with a personal-record height of 6-2 — Littleton grazed enough of the bar on his third attempt at 6-4 to spoil a PR upgrade.

Charles City junior and returning state-qualifier Leah Stewart won the girls shot put with a throw of 35 feet, 2 inches.

Comet junior Jadyn Van Horn won the 200-meter dash (29.12) and placed second in the 400-meter dash (1:05.49) a little more than a second behind New Hampton junior Taylor Ries.

Charles City’s boys 1600 medley relay team of sophomore John Bruening, sophomore Victor Ward Jr., Cunnings and junior Xander Graeser won its event with a time of 3:48.39.

Comet freshman Patrick Bruening and sophomore Holden McInroy placed second and third in the 400-meter run with respective times of 58.25 and 59.10.