GRINNELL – The Montezuma Braves track and field team sent one clear message in their first meet: They’re going to stick their noses in there and compete.
“We had a good opening meet,” said Coach John Beck, after the Braves battled in the SICL Indoor Meet at Bear Recreation and Athletic Center at Grinnell College. The meet was run Monday, March 20.
“The boys competed well and adapted to their first indoor meet,” the coach said.
Beck then broke down the performance by segments.
“Our distance crew put in a good time for our 4×800, beatng our time from the end of the season last year. We also competed well in the 1,600, 800 and 1,600 medley. We ran quality times,” Beck said.
“Being an indoor meet, the opportunities for our distances guys were a bit limited, however, they took advantage of them.”
“Our sprint crew did a good job. Our guys went out well and posted some solid times for so early in the season,” the coach said.
“Individually, Kenny Criswell and Jack Erselius ran some quality times. In our relays, I was very pleased with our 4×200 and 4×400, as we nearly matched times from the end of the season last year with some very similar lineups,” Beck said.
“We had four guys in the 60-meter hurdles,” said the coach. “Each one competed well and I thought had very good form for it being early in the season.”
In the field events, Garrett Watts did a great job in the high jump, getting a career personal record at 5 feet, 10 inches”
“Our long jumpers did a good job with limited practice time for that event,” Beck said.
“Our throwers had just one event to compete in,” Beck said. “We got some quality throws from them. This is a young group that is still learning technique and building core strength,” said Montezuma’s coach. “I am looking for constant growth out of them as we progress through the season.”
Boys SICL Indoor Meet
at Grinnell College
No team scores kept
Montezuma places, efforts
High jump – 3, Garrett Watts, 5-10. 8, Damien Knox, 5-2.
Long jump – 15, Bryson Stockman, 15-5. 20, Luke Brennan, 14-2.5.
Shot put – 18, Briar Simpson, 30-5. 26, Broox Stockman, 28-8.5. 31, Isaac Wedgewood, 27-11. Lars Taylor, no distance.
60 hurdles – 7, Garrett Watts, 9.88. 11, Damien Knox, 10.71. 14, Bryson Stockman, 10.94. 16, Luke Brennan, 11.19.
60 Dash – 3, Kenny Criswell, 7.46. 7, Jack Erselius, 7.67.
400 – 6, Carter Michalek, 1:00.29. 10, Bryson Stockman, 1:01.80.
Distance medley – 9, MHS, 4:24.78. (Damien Knox, Broox Stockman, Gavin Strong, Luke Erselius).
4×200 – 5, MHS, 1:42.16. (Kenny Criswell, Luke Brennan, Carter Michalek, David Rose). 16, MHS, 1:59.61. (Lars Taylor, Isaac Wedgewood, Lucas Flaig, Briar Simpson).
800 – 9, Colton Benson, 2:36.04. 14, Jusiah Wetering, 2:48.98.
200 – 8, Kenny Criswell, 25:15. 12, Jack Erselius, 25:52. 17, David Rose, 26.12.
4×400 – 5, MHS, 3:56.07 (Carter Michalek, Garrett Watts, Jack Erselius, Broox Stockman).