Tigerhawk boys move up in district standings

DES MOINES — Competing against schools much larger, the Colfax-Mingo boys track and field team was more concerned about running personal-best times and moving up in its Class 1A district standings than it was about a strong team finish.

And with the return of two of their best runners, the Tigerhawks climbed to second in the district standings in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays at the Saydel Invitational and are now fourth in the 4x800 relay.

Jacob Lietz and Gabe Simpson returned from a Spanish Club trip to provide a boost in all three relays.

Lietz and Simpson teamed with Blake Summy and Jared Myers to finish fourth in the 4x400 with a time of 3 minutes, 39.42 seconds. That same group was seventh in the 4x200 with a time of 1:37.37.

Colin Lourens had the best individual finish of the night. The junior was sixth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 2.75 inches.

The most controversial event of the night was the 4x800 relay. It appeared that two runners to each side of Lietz knocked the baton out of the junior’s hands just a few seconds into the race, but the starter didn’t see it that way.

Running several seconds behind the rest of the pack because of the drop, the Tigerhawks still recorded a season-best time by 22 seconds. Lietz, Cameron Warner, Summy and Simpson hit the line in 9:27.94. That time is good enough for fourth in their district.

The Tigerhawks return to action at 5 p.m. Monday in Van Meter. They run at Martensdale-St. Marys at 5 p.m. Thursday.