The wait to compete is over

etition since 2019, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' track and field teams have seen some action during two early bird outdoor meets. The events replaced indoor meets that are usually held early in the spring.

The Hawks travelled to Hawarden on March 25 for the West Sioux early bird meet. No team scores were kept or awards given, but the meet gave area schools a chance to get some competition.

Highlights for the Hawks were three runner-up finishes in the 11-team meet. Junior Madison Otto placed second in the 800 meter run, and the sprint medley and distance medley relays also finished second. The sprint medley team was made up of sophomore Emily Mutombo and juniors Anna VanderVeen, Lydia Harders and Jasmine Lux. The distance medley team was Mutombo, Harders, Lux and freshman Abigail Otto.

Madison Otto also placed fifth in the 1,500-meter run.

Times were not available for the meet.

In a second outdoor event on March 29, H-M-S travelled to Paullina for the South O'Brien early meet.

The Hawks picked up runner-up finishes with Madison Otto in the 3,000 meter run (13:31.81); the 4x200 relay team of Mutombo, Abigail Otto, senior Taya Mason and Lux (1:59.47); and the distance medley team of Vander Veen, junior Emily Otto, Abigail Otto and Lux (4:56.59).

Third-place finishes were recorded by Mutombo in the 100 meter dash (:13.80); Madison Otto in the 800 meter run (2:51.49); Harders in the 400 meter dash (1:10.42); the 4x800 team of Vander Veen, Harders, Abigail Otto and Lux (12:16.72); and the sprint medley team of Mutombo, Vander Veen, Harders and Lux (2:05.81).

In fourth place were Emily Otto in the 200 meter dash (:30.45) and the 4x400 team of Harders, Vander Veen, sophomore Ashleigh Vermeer and Abigail Otto (4:50.54).

In fifth place were freshman Lexi Croatt in the 3,000 meter run (14:26.63); and senior Megan Recher in shot put (25'3").

Varsity team scores were Ridge View 153, Cherokee 134, South O'Brien 133, Okoboji 84, H-M-S 68 and Whiting 5.

In JV, senior Paige Gehrke was the winner of shot put (25'6"). In the 1,500-meter run, freshman Jocelyn Abonce finished fourth (7:11.06) and junior Juliana Pasillas was fifth (7:52.02). The 4x200 team of freshman Alexa Reed-Clancy, Abonce, freshman Kya Christopherson and Recher was third (2:25.68). The sprint medley team of Reed-Clancy, Gehrke, Christopherson and Abonce finished fourth (2:36.16). The 4x100 team of Christopherson, sophomore Kayla Kathman, Recher and Gehrke finished sixth (1:10.49).

Junior varsity team scores were Okoboji 20, South O'Brien 11, Ridge View 8, Cherokee and H-M-S 6, and Whiting 4.

The Hawk girls are scheduled to compete in the Tomahawk Relays on April 9 and in a meet hosted by Unity Christian at Orange City on April 12.