Jones’ big night guides PCM boys to win at home

MONROE — A huge night on the oval for sophomore Evan Jones powered the PCM boys track and field team to a team win at its home meet on Thursday.

Jones moved into the Class 2A lead in the 200-meter dash and propelled into the top five in the 100 as his three wins led the Mustangs to a victory at the PCM Boys Relays.

It was the team’s first win at that home meet in the past three seasons. The Mustangs scored 154 points in part because of seven victories and 14 top-three finishes.

Knoxville (118), Pleasantville (105.5), North Mahaska (104), the Southeast Polk JV (88), Wayne (74.5), Chariton (62), the PCM JV (21) and Melcher-Dallas (4) completed the nine-team field.

Jones won the 100 in a career-best time of 10.98 seconds, which ranks fifth in 2A.

Jones and Tad Wilson went 2-3 in the 200, too. Jones was second with a career-best 22.49 and Wilson finished third in a career-best 22.68. Those times rank tied for first and eighth in 2A, respectively.

Only two athletes from one team can score points in each individual event, but PCM finished 2-3-4 in the 110 high hurdles. Griffin Olson (15.19), Gavin Van Gorp (15.22) and Jake Winters (16.03) all posted career-best times in the event.

The Mustangs also doubled up in the 400 and 400 hurdles. Riley Graber (54.01) was second in the 400 and Joey Ferneding (57.48) took fifth. Gavin Steenhoek (1:01.16) and Justin Johnston (1:02.77) were 3-4 in the 400 hurdles.

Mark Bussan and Van Gorp each won a field event. Bussan was the shot put winner with a toss of 43 feet, 6 inches and he also placed sixth in the discus with a career-best 113-8.

Van Gorp won the long jump with a leap of 20-10 1/4 and Chase Wagaman was fifth in the high jump with a mark of 5-6.

The 4x100, 4x200 and shuttle hurdle relays all won. The 4x100 relay team of Olson, Gabe Hobbs, Jacob Wendt and Jones won the race in 44.55 seconds and the 4x200 relay team of Carter Burns, Wilson, Wendt and Hobbs had a winning time of 1:34.99.

Olson, Jaden Houser, Winters and Van Gorp posted a winning time of 1:03.41 in the shuttle hurdle relay.

The 4x400 and 4x800 relays both were third. Brevin DeRaad, Gavin DeRaad, Graber and Coby DeRaad placed third in the 4x400 with a time of 3:48.67.

Joe Shaver, Kolby Clark, Carson Hansen and Coby DeRaad completed the 4x800 relay in 9:05.13. Coby DeRaad also was fifth in the 800 in 2:13.82.