Sports writer
In a lightning-delayed track meet Friday, the Goessel High School boys’ track and field team performed at its peak and left with a third-place team finish at the 12-team Heart of America League meet.
Craig Banman secured two school records in the 100- and 400-meter dashes.
“I knew there were five events where the records are within reach,” Banman said. “After the storm moved through, the temperature was comfortable and the wind was not a factor.”
Many of the Goessel boys used the weather conditions to their advantage as season-bests were set in 15 events.
Banman took second in the 100m dash with a time of 11.13 seconds.
He was first in the 200 with a time of 22.59 and he won the 400 by more than 10 meters with a time of 49.71.
Weston Hiebert won the 300m hurdles by an eyelash with a time of 41.12.
Goessel’s 4x100 relay team of Cameron Stultz, John Berkholz, Hiebert, and Travis Fensky picked up a surprising first-place finish by knocking nearly a second off its best time of the season.
The Bluebirds 4x400 relay team of Berkholz, Austin Unruh, Hiebert and Banman, were the favored team in the event and brushed nearly three seconds off its season best en route to the victory.