Pekin boys win at Eldon; second in conference

ELDON ­? With the Pekin boys assured second place at the Southeast Iowa Superconference meet, the Panthers forewent the final day of the competition Monday to attend the Bob Gerard Relays.

The Pekin boys swept the relay events in Eldon ? winning 13 events in total ? to nearly double second-place Cardinal?s point total. The Panthers scored 203 points while Cardinal was second with 108.

Pekin dominated with wins in the 4x800 (9:06), shuttle hurdle relay (1:03.1), distance medley (3:52.2), 4x200 (1:36.6), 4x100 (45.47) and 4x400 (3:52.4).

The Panthers also nearly swept the field events, as Bailey Donovan won the discus (140? 9?) and Bryce Sines won both the long jump (20? 9?) and high jump (6? 0?).

Other victories for Pekin came from Stratton Bond in the 1,600 (5:11) and 3,200 (11:13),

For the second time in two seasons, the Panthers took a back seat to Mediapolis at the conference meet, which was held Thursday and Monday in Winfield. Pekin tallied 121.5 points before the meet was suspended Thursday with three events to go, but Mediapolis was far ahead and finished with 183 points.

The Panthers grabbed conference titles in a total of six events, including two apiece from both Morales and Sines. Morales was the discus and shot put champion, and Sines won the high jump and long jump.

Tyson Lamb, Tim Murray, Graham Wittrock and Eli Harper ran to a victory in the 4x800, and the distance medley relay featuring Lamb, Harper, Nate Buch and Quinton Garrels also finished first.

Tater Clubb was second in the shot put and Donovan placed runner-up in the discus.

The Pekin boys will be looking to qualify as many events as possible to the state meet with a trip to the district meet in WACO Thursday.

Cardinal second at Bob Gerard Relays

ELDON ­?The Cardinal boys? track team won one event and placed second in six others at its own Bob Gerard Relays Monday.

Jonathan Pedersen was responsible for the Comets? one victory, becoming the 110-meter hurdles winner with a time of 16.03 seconds.

Mike Owings was second in the 400-hurdles (104.5) and Jimmy Edwards finished runner-up (24.37).

Cardinal often finished second in relays, only behind Pekin, at the home relays. The Comets? shuttle hurdle (1:04.9), 4x100 (47.46), 4x200 (1:39.6) and 4x400 (3:53.8) all finished second to the Panthers.

The Comets at I-35 in Truro for their Class 2A district meet Thursday.

Van Buren takes third

ELDON ­? The Van Buren boys? track team scored 102.5 points to place third out of six teams at the Bob Gerard Relays.

Austin Gire led the Warriors with a pair of victories in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Gire blazed to victory in the 100 with a time of 11.36 seconds, and he was nearly a second ahead of the second-place runner in the 200, at 23.62 seconds.

Elliott Remick finished second in the 110-highs (16.55), Levi Sherrod was runner-up in the open-800 (2:14), and Thomas Fitzsimmons took silver in the 1,600 (5:17).

Van Buren?s distance medley took second (4:07), as well.

Next up for Van Buren is the Class 2A district meet in Tipton Thursday.