G-H/V boys track team wins John Larson Relays

It was an exciting night for the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura boys track team Thursday, April 25.  The Cardinals got to take the victory lap as winners of the John Larson Relays in Armstrong.  G-H/V earned 147 team points, followed by Bishop Garrigan with 120.  Seven teams competed in the meet.

“I knew going into this meet that we had a chance to win it,” said Coach Tracy Schmidt.  “But after the Belmond meet where we led the whole time, but finished second, we didn’t want to take anything for granted.”

Joel Toppin had an outstanding night for G-H/V with a triple crown, winning the 3200 meter run in 10:37.09, the 1600 meter run in 4:40.24, and the 800 meter run in 2:08.13.

“Joel ran very well tonight in all three races.  His 1600 and 800 races were his best this season,” said Schmidt.

Austin Kropp also picked up a first place in the discus with a throw of 120’1”.

Seth Williams captured  an individual first place finish in the 110 meter high hurdles with a time of 15.64.  Despite a slow start out of the blocks, Williams took the lead at the sixth hurdle and never looked back.

“For only his second time in competition, he showed he can be solid through the finish,” said Schmidt.

The Cardinal’s 4x100 relay team of Adam Monson, Brad Nedved, Williams and Alex Van Gerpen ran a season best 45.74 to capture the only relay gold.

The Cardinals double placed in five individual events to tally the top team points.  In the high jump, Braden Meinsts took first  with a leap of 5’10” and Kevin Boehnke captured third.  Van Gerpen won the 100 meter dash in 11.84, and Monson placed fourth.  Toppin won the 1600 meter run and A.J. Arnold finished in third.  In the long jump, Monson and Ezra Marroquin placed third and fourth respectively.  Nic Tusha and Ryan Sonquist placed second and fifth respectively in the shot put.

“When you score 10 points in an event those points add up quickly,” said Schmidt.  “We had some great finishes out of our second entries and that was the difference in the meet.”

On Thursday the team travels to Bishop Garrigan and then to Osage on Friday.