New SEC track champs crowned

KEOKUK — The Southeast Conference track and field championships changed hands on Thursday night in Keokuk.

Defending champions Mt. Pleasant was dethroned in both boys and girls competitions. The Fairfield girls rolled to victory by 60 points, and the Washington boys won by 32.

The Trojan girls nearly hit 200 points on the day, finishing with 198. Fairfield won eight events, led by a dominant performance in individual track events.

Anna Dunlap had a huge day. She was a triple winner for the Trojans, winning the 200-meter dash, the 400-meter dash and the 100-meter hurdles, in which she narrowly edged out teammate Kelsey Pacha.

“We’ve been right next to each other all year,” Dunlap said. “We’re always pushing each other, but it’s like happy competition, because no matter who wins, we’re both excited.”

Pacha echoed Dunlaps remarks, saying the duo was pushing to get the all important 18 points.

“We knew we had to do our best in this event and try and get one-two,” said Pacha. “So when we crossed the finish line one and two, it felt good.”

Maddie Jones was a double-winner for Fairfield, taking both the 3000 and the 1500. The 4x100 team of Kiya Robertson, Maya Lane, Danielle Breen and Coty Engle took home a victory, as did the 4x200 team of Robertson, Engle, Savannah Hollander and Lane.

The Mt. Pleasant girls had four winners, two of which came in the throwing events. Grace Kelley won the discus, and Jadan Brumbaugh launched the shot put 44 feet, 4¼ inches to break Mt. Pleasant’s school record.

The Panther girls had two relay wins. The 4x400 team of Courtney Raub, Ralyn Seberg, Jeneva Dykstra and Kenna Lamm won, as did the shuttle hurdle team of Allie Westercamp, Jenna Gilmore, Josie Gilmore and Karsyn Lamm.

The Washington girls had two wins. The 4x800 team of Abby Kleese, Iris Peterson, Taylor Bartholomew and Grace Voss came out on top, as did the distance medley team of Olivia Marek, Nevaeh Brown, Kleese and Voss.

Washington’s boys received a big boost from star distance runner Lance Sobaski, who was a triple-winner for the SEC champion Demons. Sobaski won the 3200, 1600 and 800 to earn the team 30 points.

Ethan Patterson won the high jump. Reece Mayer won the discus, and Elijah Morris took the 400-meter dash to give the Demons another individual win.

“Four hundreds are hard,” Morris said. “I have respect for everyone out there trying it, because it’s not fun.

The Washington sprint medley team of Evan Miller, Wyatt Stout, Jacob Miller and Morris also came out on top.

The Mt. Pleasant boys won three events on the night, two of which came in the hurdles. Bryce Wilson cruised to victory in the 110-meter high hurdles, and the shuttle hurdle team of Will Davidson, Mason Mills, Bryce Wilson and Morgan Van Nyhuis picked up a victory.

Cooper Pullis finished second to Washington’s Mayer in the discus, but he bounced back to win the shot put. Pullis says he’s on a mission after a disappointing showing at the Drake Relays.

“I didn’t do great there, so it has kind of fueled me to pick up the extra pieces,” Pullis said. “I’ve had a lot of extra practice and have just been working on my technique.”

The Fairfield boys had two wins on the night. Aiden Lyons took home an SEC title in the 200-meter dash, and the 4x800 team of Gavin VanVeen, Alex Forrest, Kaden Mickels and Kevin Kretz finished the meet in first.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES: 1. Fairfield 198; 2. Mt. Pleasant 138; 3. Keokuk 72.50; 4. Washington 65; 5. Burlington 57; 6. Fort Madison 50.50

BOYS TEAM SCORES: 1. Washington 162; 2. Fort Madison 130; 3. Burlington 101; 4. Mt. Pleasant 86; 5. Fairfield 61; 6. Keokuk 40.