Several KCII area athletes had top eight performances during the first day of the Iowa Girls and Boys State Track and Field Meet.
The Iowa Mennonite School’s Riley Schmieder finished her high school athletic career in seventh place in the Class 1A 3000 meter run, clocking a time of 11:18.35.
Two area athletes finished in the top eight in the Class 1A boys 3200 meter run. Highland junior Keiffer Sexton came in third place in the two mile run, clocking a time of 10:03.63. Winfield-Mount Union sophomore Gavin Bence finished in seventh place, posting a time of 10:13.66.
Lone Tree sophomore Jovonte Squires took home hardware in the Class 1A long jump competition. Squires leap of 21 feet 4.5 inches was the third best in the state.
Columbus junior Mauricio Ramirez medaled in the Class 2A long jump competition, finishing in fifth place with a leap of 21 feet 7 inches.
The Pekin Panthers girls’ track team had three notable finishes during their first day in Des Moines. Junior Shelbie Williams is your Class 1A shot put champion, hurling the shot at meet best 39 feet 10.25 inches, a full 7.25 inches farther than the rest of the field. The Panthers also picked up two medals in the 3000 meter run. Junior Gwynne Wright earned second place honors after completing her run in 10:52.2 while her classmate junior Taylor Lock finished in eighth place with a time of 11:19.1.
Finally, two KCII area athletes have qualified for Saturday’s final of the Class 1A 200 meter dash. WACO’s Bryce Achen finished the preliminary round in 22.69 seconds, the fifth best finish in the field. Winfield-Mount Union junior Garrett Baker squeaked into the finals, clocking the eighth best time in the preliminary round of 22.99 seconds.
The top eight finishers in each event earn a medal and points for the team competition.
The events for day two of the Iowa Girls and Boys State Track and Field meet begin at 9 a.m. with the running of the Class 2 and 3A girls’ distance medley events. Stay tuned to AM/FM KCII for state track updates throughout the day.