Staff writer
Several Goessel athletes performed in the first meet this year near the same levels as last year and the Goessel coaches were pleased with the results. The April 6 meet, hosted by Herington, was held at the Marion High School track. Five teams participated, with Marion winning both the boys and girls team events and Goessel came in second in both divisions.
Winning first place for the Bluebird boys were Jared Reimer in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter races, Evan Hiebert in the high jump, Weston Hiebert in the 300-meter hurdles. Goessel’s 4X100 relay team of John Berkholz, Braden Unruh, Weston Hiebert, and Cameron Stultz took first place.
Most of the meet was held in warm, windy conditions but in spite of the wind several athletes posted marks that were near last year’s best already this season.
Sprinter Cameron Stultz performed well in the 100 and 200, and Reimer’s times in the long races were comparable to last year’s pace.
Derek Kruger already bettered his time in the 1600 from last year. Weston Hiebert is starting this season in both hurdles races where he left off last season, and Evan Hiebert began the season just shy of his personal best in the high jump.
For the girls’ team, several underclassmen joined the experienced members of the track team to score points for the Bluebirds. Earning first-place medals for the Bluebirds were Kendra Flaming in the 400, Karina Harvey in the 800, Aspen Frey in the 1600, and the 4X800 relay team consisting of Brittny Czarnowsky, Flaming, Karina Harvey, and Frey.
In spite of the windy conditions, Frey’s mark in the 1600 is in line with last year’s pace. Freshman Tia Goertzen posted a distance in triple jump that exceeded last year’s performances and her time in the 300m hurdles has already bettered the Goessel performance from last season.
The Bluebird teams were at Peabody Tuesday.
Goessel performances in the top three spots at the Herington Quint.
Boys Second Place of Five Teams - 93 team points.
4X100 relay – 1. John Berkholz, Braden Unruh, Weston Hiebert, Cameron Stultz, 46.10.
4X400 relay – 2. Berkholz, Unruh, Stultz, Weston Hiebert 3:47.00.
4X800 relay – 3. Corey Buller, Lucas Kemkes, Aiden Winblad, Grant Flaming (no time available).
High jump – 1. Evan Hiebert, 6-0.
100m dash – 3. Stultz , 11.40.
200m dash – 3. Stultz, 23.80.
400 m dash – 2. Berkholz, 56.00.
1600m run - 1. Jared Reimer, 4:57.10; 3. Derek Kruger, 5:18.40.
3200m run – 1. Reimer, 10:54.00; 3. Laird Goertzen, 11:39.00.
110m hurdles – 2. Weston Hiebert, 16.70.
300m hurdles – 1. Weston Hiebert, 42.00.
Girls Second Place of Five Teams - 80 team points.
4X100 relay – 2. Kendra Flaming, Jessica Harvey, Karina Harvey, Tia Goertzen, 55.80.
4X400 relay – 2. Frey, Jessica Harvey, Karina Harvey, Flaming, 4:34.00.
4X800 relay – 1. Brittny Czarnowsky, Flaming, Karina Harvey, Frey, 11:03.00.
400m dash – 1. Flaming, 66.00; 2. Jessica Harvey, 68.00.
800m run – 1. Karina Harvey, 2:47.00.
1600m run – 1. Frey, 5:58.00.
3200m run – 2. Czarnowsky, 14:10.00.
100 hurdles – 3. Goertzen, 18.90.
300 hurdles – 2. Goertzen, 52.00.
Triple Jump – 3. Goertzen, 31-5.50.
Javelin – 3. Frey, 90-9.