Pirate tracksters perform well at Luther indoor

COACH RANKIN PLEASED AND SURPRISED BY PIRATES EFFORT IN FIRST MEET OF THE YEAR

By Gary Simmons, Sr.

DECORAH - The Upper Iowa Conference Indoor meet kicked off the 2005 Postville Boys Track season last Monday (March 21st) night at Luther College. With 21 boys on the roster Coach Ray Rankin is looking forward to the development of this year’s team.

“We have a good variety of tracksters this year,” Coach Rankin commented. “We have some decent sprinters and distance guys. We are really young though, with only four seniors coming out this year.”

Blaine Grinna had a strong showing in the 55 meter high hurdles with a time of 8.86 seconds and teammate Kirk Johnson clocked the 400 meters in 58.72 seconds and cleared 17 feet in the long jump. Asa Waters turned in a good time in the 800 meter run with a 2:27.9 performance. Ben Heitland tossed the shot put 35’ 3” as Coach Rankin looks for him to improve.

“I was really pleased with some of the guys’ performances at our first meet of the year,” Coach Rankin said. “Some of the guys that surprised me were Kirk Johnson in the open 400 meter dash and he jumped well in the long jump. Blaine Grinna looked good in the 55 high hurdles and ran a great split on the 400 sprint medley. Aaron Kruse looked good in the high jump clearing 5’ 6”. Asa Waters looked strong in the 4x8 and open 800, and Chris Irvine looked really good in the 1600 meter run finishing with a time of 5:18. Ben Heitland looked solid in the shot put, and is only a sophomore and will improve with time and experience. All in all it was a good first meet for us.”

Joel Hanson turned in a time of 6.81 in the 55 meter dash and ran the 200 meter dash in 24.92. Eric Lechtenberg completed the 3200 meter distance race in 11:45.7.

The relay teams began to fill slots in the different events. The relay team of Aaron Kruse, Corby Friederich, Sam Polfer, and Joel Hanson turned in a good effort in the 4x200. Ethan Snitker, Friederich, Cory Miner, and David Pfister clocked in with a time of 4:16.4 in the 4x400. Miner, Chris Irvine, Asa Waters, and Brandon Cox ran the 4x800 in 10:08. Polfer, Hanson, Aaron Kruse, and Blaine Grinna had a good effort in the sprint medley relay with a time of 1:48.3. The 1600 medley relay team of Miner, Tyler Boyle, Cox, and Eric Lechtenberg turned a 4:28.6 performance.

“It was great to be able to run against some competition and get some times at a really great facility like Luther College,” commented Coach Rankin. “Hopefully the weather will be kind to us the rest of the season as our outdoor season will start with our first meet here at Postville on April 7th. Also we are looking for helpers at our home meets. We have a great facility for other schools to come to, and are always in need of help. So if anyone would like to help please contact Teresa Berg or myself at the high school.”

UPPER IOWA CONFERENCE INDOOR TRACK MEET

Monday, March 21, 2005

POSTVILLE PIRATES RESULTS:

SHOT PUT – Ben Heitland 35’3”; Brandon Plaht 25’7”. 55 METER DASH – Joel Hanson 6.81; Bryan Mueller 7.77. 400 METER DASH - Kirk Johnson 58.72; Ethan Snitker 1:00.3. HIGH JUMP – Aaron Kruse 5’6”. 1600 MEDLEY - Cory Miner, Tyler Boyle, Brandon Cox, and Eric Lechtenberg 4:28.6. SPRINT MEDLEY – Sam Polfer, Joel Hanson, Aaron Kruse, and Blaine Grinna 1:48.3. LONG JUMP – Kirk Johnson 17’ 0”; Mitchell Schultz 13’1.5”. 3200 METER RUN – Eric Lechtenberg 11:45.7; Phil Heitland 14:55.6; 200 METER DASH – Joel Hanson 24.92, Aaron Kruse 25.71. 800 METER RUN – Asa Waters 2:27.9. 4x800 METER RELAY – Cory Miner, Chris Irvine, Asa Waters, and Brandon Cox 10:08. 1600 METER RUN – Chris Irvine 5:18; Asa Waters 5:55. 4x400 METER RELAY – Ethan Snitker, Corby Friederich, Cory Miner, and David Pfister 4:16.4. 55 METER HIGH HURDLE – Blaine Grinna 8.86, David Pfister 10.78. 4x200 METER RELAY – Aaron Kruse, Corby Friederich, Sam Polfer, and Joel Hanson 1:44.