Trojans take own title

FAIRFIELD — An overwhelming sentiment from Tuesday’s athletes in the Fairfield Relays track meet was joy that there was a track season after the coronavirus ran off the competitions a year ago.

Fairfield took advantage of the home meet with two throwing victories, a relay win and Kevin Kretz’ triumph in the 400 meters and cruised to the team win by 24 points over Pekin.

Kretz won the 400 without running his best time.

“I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to be out here running after what happened last year. My time was solid, and I heard some of the kids say they got a (personal record) in it, but I did not,” Kretz said.

“It’s not exactly where I want to be, but a win is a win and will help us get the team victory and that’s important in a meet like this where the points are super tight,” Kretz said with a little prognosticating ability. “I’d like to run 50 flat before the end of the season.”

Tuesday he ran a 54.85.

Kyle Godwin was first in the shot put as was Chris Kyle in the discus.

Godwin has worked on his consistency since it is his first official year out for track. ”I went out last year, but, of course, we didn’t get to do it. I have learned my adrenaline starts going when I see other people throw.“

"I’ve done better in practice,“ Kyle said. ”I have to work on the competition mindset over a practice mindset.“

Kyle said he throws better when he is having fun.

"Being very competitive beats the fun side. The Pekin kid (Logan Keeley) had good throws, so I got lucky. If I’d been throwing last year, I’d probably be 10 feet farther this year.“

Pekin had two wins from Brady Millikin, a distance medley victory and Zack Wise in the 800.

Wise is motivated for a “redemption” season after getting quarantined the day of the state cross-country meet.

“It was the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever had happen to me in my life,” Wise said. “So anything I can do to help my team, I want to get out and do it to make up for missing state.”

Making state in track will help soothe that heartbreak, and he has his sights set on the 1600 meters. “I want to run 4:40 or better but I haven’t broken 4:50 yet. Running the 800 tonight is my cup of tea. I want to get to two flat.” His best in that race is 2:07 so “it’s gonna take a lot of work. We are Pekin. We go out, and we run; that’s our thing.”

Tyler Stoltz had one of two Van Buren County wins with Lane Davis hurdling to first in the 110 highs. Stoltz bettered his previous best high jump by 4 inches to win at 6 feet.

“I guess I was feeling it,” he said. “I think I’m just getting better as the season goes. I used to have a slow run up to the bar, and I would jump too close to it. Now I’m doing better at where I jump. I think if we had run last year, I would’ve been doing more workouts, and I’d be even better.”

TEAM SCORES

1. Fairfield 140, 2. Pekin 116, 3. Oskaloosa 111, 4. (tie) Van Buren County and Central Lee 74, 6. Keokuk 66

WINNERS AND AREA TOP 3 FINISHES

100 — 1. Hocker CL 11.7, 2. Aiden Lyons F 11.72, 3. JJ Lane F 12.16; 200 — 1. Hocker 24.09, 3. Connor Lyons F 24.87; 400 — 1. Kevin Kretz F 54.85; 800 — 1. Zack Wise P 2:13.73, 2. Kaden Mickels F 2:16.81; 1600 — Brady Millikin P 4:45.67, 3. Alex Forrest F 4:55.99; 3200 ——1. Millikan 10:26.33, 2. Mickels 11:18.86, 3. Brady McWhirter 11:42.32; 110 hurdles — 1. Lane Davis VBC 17.13, 2. Michael Jones P 17.45; 400 hurdles — 1. Sheltie CL 1:04.89; 2. Lauderman P 1:05.65

400 meter relay — 1. Keokuk 46.94, 2. Fairfield 48.9, 3. Pekin 49.96; 800 relay — 1. Keokuk 1:37.97, 2. Fairfield 1:38.29, 3. Van Buren County 1:45.14; 1600 relay — 1. Oskaloosa 3:46.20, 2. Fairfield 3:47.62, 3. Pekin 3:49.13; 3200 relay — 1. Fairfield Gavin Van Veen, Ben Boatwright, Forrest, Kretz, 8:52.27, 2. Pekin 9:13.46, 3. Van Buren County 10:4.72; Sprint medley — 1. Keokuk 1:40.92, 3. Fairfield 1:44.02; Distance medley — 1. Pekin Chandler Stull, Braden Sobaski, Jadon Wolver, Millikan 3:51.53, 3. Fairfield 4:04.07; Shuttle hurdle — 1. Oskaloosa 1:09.32, 2. Van Buren County 1:10.68

High jump — Tyler Stoltz VBC 6-0, 2. Davis 5-10; Long jump — Ashman CL 19-10, 3. Aiden Lyons F 19-0; Shot put — 1. Kyle Godwin F 44-7 1/2, 2. Logan Keeley P 41—8 1/2; Discus — Chris Kyle F 113-5, 2. Kelly 110-9