March 29, 2024

Spartan relay team qualifies for nationals at Jim Duncan Invite

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DES MOINES —The Southwestern Community College track and field team went up against some tough competition here last weekend and held its own at the Jim Duncan Invitational hosted by Drake University.

“It’s a qualifier, so you have to run certain times to get in,” head coach Bill Huntington said. “We got to see some Iowa kids, some Drake kids. South Dakota State was there. They’re usually a pretty solid track program. I thought it was good competition. Plus, for the kids, it’s a great opportunity to run on a fast track.”

The Spartans ended the meet with a bang, running a national-qualifying time in the 4x400 relay.

Southwestern ran away with the win in heat one, running 3:17.85. Central College was second in the first heat with its time of 3:20.93.

Running on the relay for the Spartans were Anthony Simmons, Theo Piniau, Michael Flakes and Jaiden Brown.

“That one really stood out,” Huntington said about the relay. “Anthony got out of there. We had him at 48, and that’s pretty good coming out of the blocks. Theo threw in a 48.25, and I thought ‘we’ve got a shot.’ Mike handed it off and it was 2:26, and I go ‘we’ve got a shot!’ It was maybe the best race I’ve seen out of Jaiden all year. He ran a 50-flat. Go 3:17 and they won the heat walking away.”

Relay team members were mobbed by a group of celebrating teammates after the race on the infield.

Southwestern ended up third overall, after South Dakota State and Lindenwood each ran faster in the second heat.

“I’d have liked to have seen what we could have done (in the second heat). I think we could have gone a little bit lower,” Huntington said. “But that was an exciting race. They were celebrating down there a little bit. I was fist-pumping in the corner, so I wasn’t watching.”

Piniau and Simmons also excelled in the 400 meter dash. Piniau finished fourth in a season’s best time of 48.35, while Simmons took eighth in 49.01.

“Theo went 48.3. His best time going in, for outdoors this year, was like a 49.8,” Huntington said. “Anthony was in a heat where he did have a little bit of a challenge and he went 49.1. Those were two outstanding races.”

The Spartans also placed two in the top eight of the 100 meter dash.

Brown finished sixth in 11.18 seconds, while Justin Martin finished eighth in 11.24.

A handful of Spartans finished seventh in their respective events.

Seth Starks took seventh in the high jump competition with his clearance of 1.93 meters.

“Although he didn’t jump as high as he has in the past, I was really pleased with what Seth Starks did in the high jump,” Huntington said. “He’s been going out lately at about 2.01 or 2.3 meters, and that’s 6-8 to 6-10. Nobody jumped particularly high, so I think that was the whole field. It was nice to see Seth right in the middle with the bigger D-I’s.”

Sophomore Aaron Ward finished seventh in his 10,000 meter debut, running 35:40.78.

Huntington said they had played around with the idea of running Ward in a 10K last year, but wanted him to increase his mileage in preparation for it.

“That was a competitive field,” Huntington said. “For his very first 10,000, he goes 35:40. I thought that was impressive.”

The 4x100 relay team ran a time that would have been close to qualifying for nationals, but was disqualified for a handoff before the exchange zone.

“That team showed me it has the capability of making nationals,” Huntington said. “The handoff, it wasn’t a bad handoff, we just made it before the exchange zone. I watched it on film and the referee made the right call.”

The Spartans return to action Saturday at the Statesman Relays in Oskaloosa. Huntington is still hopeful that the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams could get into the following week’s Drake Relays field.

Jim Duncan Invitational

Friday

Men

High jump — 1. Ryan Cook, Drake, 2.01 meters; 7. Seth Starks, SWCC, 1.93 meters.

10,000 meters — 1. Ben Jaskowiak, Unattached, 31:42.21; 7. Aaron Ward, SWCC, 35:40.78.

3,000 meter steeplechase — 1. Andrew Thies, South Dakota State, 9:17.10; 15. Ben Friederichs, SWCC, 10:28.99.

Saturday

Men

Long jump — 1. Michael Mlbambo, Lindenwood, 7.30 meters; 14. Parrish McGhee, SWCC, 6.21 meters.

400 meter dash — 1. Dominic Kacich, Truman State, 47.62; 4. Theo Piniau, SWCC, 48.35; 8. Anthony Simmons, SWCC, 49.01.

100 meter dash — 1. Vinnie Saucer, Iowa, 10.81; 6. Jaiden Brown, SWCC, 11.18; 8. Justin Martin, SWCC, 11.24; 11. Michael Flakes, SWCC, 11.27; 14. Bobby Neal, SWCC, 11.31; 21. Torian Parks, SWCC, 11.55.

200 meter dash — 1. James Harrington, Iowa, 21.04; 13. Jaiden Brown, SWCC, 22.89; 15. John Rivan, SWCC, 22.90; 28. Justin Martin, SWCC, 23.63.

4x400 relay — 1. South Dakota State, 3:15.99; 3. Southwestern (Anthony Simmons, Theo Piniau, Michael Flakes, Jaiden Brown), 3:17.85.