Five Tiger Events Compete At State

The Tipton boy’s track team sent five events to the 2017 state track and field meet last week.  There, the Tigers had three relays and two individual events compete.  The Tiger relays that qualified were their 4X800, 4X400 and shuttle hurdle relay team.  Two individuals, Quinten Mesick and Wes Zell also qualified.

Thursday was the big day for Tipton with three of the five events competing.  Mesick was in the first flight of the event.  He placed 21st overall with a best jump of 18-feet, 6.25-inches.  That jump was his last jump in the prelims.  He jumped 18-06 in his first attempt and fouled in the second attempt.

The Tigers highest state finish came from its shuttle hurdle relay team.  The team of freshman Frank Bierman, senior Parker Jensen, senior Brandon Claussen and senior Wesley Zell just missed out on a spot in the finals of the event Saturday.  Tipton’s team ran to a finish in 1:01.61.  Cherokee won the prelims in 59.85.  The other finals qualifiers were Cascade, Central Decatur, Pleasantville, West Lyon, South Central-Calhoun, Van Meter and Oelwein.

The Tigers also had a seconded relay team compete last Thursday.  The 4X800-meter relay team of Bryce Deerberg, Sam Bierman, Trent Pelzer and Noah Jedlicka placed 22nd in a time of 8:54.24.  Dike-New Hartford won the event in a time of 8:01.33.  Mid-Prairie was the top RVC finisher with a third place finish in 8:07.97.  Cascade and West Branch also competed in the event.

On Friday, Wes Zell ran in the 110-meter high hurdle prelims.  There, Zell placed 14th out of 24.  Zell finished in a time of 15.49.  Michael Santi from Madrid won the prelims in 14.57.  Riley Barrett from Aplington-Parkersburg was second in 15.04 and Will McAllister from Cascade was third in 15.14.  Cooper Kabela from West Branch was 18th in 15.73 and one of five RVC competitors in the event.  In the finals, Santi won in 14.76 and McAllister was second in 14.94.

The Tigers also ran in the 4X400-meter relay prelims.  The Tigers 4X4 relay team of Dalton Clark, Isak Skeie, Dillon McCollough and Quinten Mesick placed 15th in 3:32.36.  Albia won the prelim round in a time of 3:22.80.  Other finals qualifiers were Dike-New Hartford, Des Moines Christian, Anamosa, Dyersville-Beckman, Kingsley-Pierson-Woodbury Central, Forest City and Pleasantville.  In the finals, Albia won the event with the team of Tony Leshen, Kyle Sinnott, Drew Winke and Jacob Clouse in 3:20.46.