Showing signs of promise

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' track and field team continued its early-season meets by competing at the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutch Relays on April 6 and the Tomahawk Relays on April 9.

At the Dutch Relays, Madison Otto led the squad with a double-win in the 3,000-meter run (12:55.66) and the 1,500-meter run (5:54.15).

"This was a great meet for Madison," Hawk coach Nicole Dorhout said. "It's fabulous to win one event, much less two. She's been working really hard."

Also placing in the 3,000-meter run was Ashleigh Vermeer, who finished third (14:00.46). It was her first time competing in that event.

Jasmine Lux was the runner-up in the 400 meter dash (1:03.50). She also anchored the Hawks' sprint medley relay (2:00.37) and 4x100 relay (:55.62) that both finished second, and added a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter run (2:43.61).

"Not only is she competing well, but she has been very coachable, she works hard and she is a team player," Dorhout said.

Other members of the sprint medley team were Emily Mutombo, Emily Otto and Abigail Otto. Also running in the 4x100 relay were Abigail Otto, Emily Otto and Lydia Harders.

Dorhout said the sprint medley relay is showing some promise. "We've had different people rotating in and out of that relay, but it's consistently placed in the Top 2 this year."

Unexpected points came from Anna Vander Veen, who finished third in the 400-meter hurdles (1:18.18).

"Anna had never run hurdles before, so that was a great result," Dorhout said.

In addition to her relays, Mutombo finished third in the 100 (:13.66) and 200 (:28.87) meter dashes. The 4x200 team of Mutombo, Emily Otto, Vander Veen and Harders also finished third (2:00.81).

The 4x800 team of Vander Veen, Taya Mason, Lexi Croatt and Harders finished fourth (12:27.18). Abigail Otto was fifth in the 200 (:29.95). In sixth place was the 4x400 team of Croatt, Kya Christopherson, Juliana Pasillas and Harders (5:36.11).

Class B team scores were South O'Brien 130, Sibley-Ocheyedan 106, Gehlen Catholic 100, Western Christian 92, H-M-S 89 and MOC-Floyd Valley JV 60.

• Tomahawk Relays at Cherokee

At the Tomahawk Relays in Cherokee, Madison Otto (12:35.67) and Croatt (13:10.76) led things off with second- and fourth-place finishes in the 3,000 meter run. Dorhout said Croatt made tremendous improvement from her previous race.

"Lexi took almost a minute off her time, which was fantastic, and she gave us some team points," she said. "Madison also ran a season-best time and continues to improve."

Lux once again was the runner-up in the 400 meter dash, running a season-best time (1:02.94). She also anchored the sprint medley team to a third-place finish, along with Mutombo, Emily Otto and Abigail Otto (1:59.85).

Vander Veen placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:19.41), as did Lux in the 800 meter run (2:44.16). Mutombo was sixth in the 100 meter dash (:14.19). Madison Otto placed seventh in the 1500 meter run (6:16.21).

The 4x200 team of Mutombo, Emily Otto, Vander Veen and Harders was fifth (2:04.12), as was the 4x100 team of Mutombo, Abigail Otto, Emily Otto and Lux (:56.21).

The 4x800 team of Harders, Vander Veen, Jocelyn Abonce and Mason finished sixth (12:20.41), and the 4x400 team of Abigail Otto, Harders, Vander Veen and Mason came in seventh (5:05.70).

Class 1A team scores were Ridge View 140, South O'Brien 134, Central Lyon 119, Newell-Fonda 111, Alta-Aurelia 76, East Sac County 57, H-M-S 53 and MMCRU 29.

Dorhout said team members are making improvements every meet and that the lineup is slowly coming together. "After two years of no track meets, it's taking some time to get things clicking again but I see good things happening."

The Hawk girls will compete in meets hosted by Spencer on April 15 and Pocahontas Area on April 20.