Two area boys’ track and field teams secured team titles and numerous individual and relay crowns on Tuesday night in Orange City. Spirit Lake Park tallied 145 points to grab the Class A team title at the Dutch Relays. MOC-Floyd Valley was second at 119 points, followed by Storm Lake (99), Unity Christian (98), and Sheldon (77). Keith Byers took top honors in two events. The senior ran the fastest time in the state of Iowa this year in the 800-meters at 1:57.78, while also running the 1600-meters in 4:33.68. Will Norris continued the long-distance success with his first place time of 10:09.00 in the 3200-meters. Kevin Martinson was the only other individual champion, taking the 400-meter hurdles in 57.10 seconds. SLP sent two relays to the top of the medal stand. The 4×200 team (Luke Kabele, Aric Waltz, Bryson McCabe, Kevin Martinson) finished in 1:31.78, while the 4×400 (Martinson, Kabele, Waltz, Kayne Feldick) registered a time of 3:28.60. The Indians also secured six second place finishes and four thirds.
The Okoboji boys track and field team also enjoyed a highly successful night, winning the team trophy in the Class B competition of the Dutch Relays with 180 points. Western Christian was second at 104, followed by South O’Brien (88), Sibley-Ocheyedan (74), LeMars Gehlen Catholic (57), and Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (42). Individually, Zach Jones had another multi-win performance, taking first in the 110-meter hurdles at 15.50 seconds, as well as in the 400-meter hurdles at 57.20 seconds. Alex Koepp took top honors in the 200-meter dash at 23.94 seconds, Taylor Cody was first in the 800-meters at 2:11, Jordan Hanna secured the 1600-meter title in 4:51, and Joe Hilsabeck won the 3200-meter race with a time of 10:29. Dalton Syverson won the high jump competition, with a height of 6’0″. On the relay side, the Pioneers dominated, taking first place in the 4×400 (Chris Albright, Syverson, Hilsabeck, Jones) in 3:35.10, the 4×800 relay (Cody, Mark Nielsen, Ryan Chindlund, and Jordan Hanna) at 8:56, as well as the Sprint Medley Relay (Koepp, Gabe Goehring, Nielsen, Hanna) in 3:53.50, and the Shuttle Hurdle Relay (Koepp, Albright, Syverson, Jones) in 1:01.5. Okoboji helped its cause with four more seconds and one third place finish.
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As for girls track and field, Spirit Lake Park finished second in the Class A team competition at the Dutch Relays. The Indians, with 132 points, were behind the host Dutch, who had 160 points. Western Christian was third (123), followed by Sheldon (75), Unity Christian (70) and Sioux Center (27). Dondi Schmidt was tops in the 1500-meter run at 5:15.91, while the Sprint Medley Relay of Abbey Horsman, Bailey Loveall, Miranda Brueggeman, and Taylor Sieperda broke the tape in 1:55.90. SLP garnered five second place finishes and eight thirds.
The Okoboji girls, who have struggled with early season injuries, had one top performance. Abby Taylor won the discuss competition with a throw of 97′. The Pioneers also took second in the discuss and 4×100 relay, and third in the 4×400 relay.
