The Clear Lake Athletics & Wellness Center held their second annual Youth Track Meet on Saturday, May 11, at Lions Field. All community youth, aged 6-14 years were invited to sign up for a day of fun and competition.
The youth, divided into age groups for both girls and boys, participated in track and field events such as 50-1600 meter races, a 4 x 100 shuttle relay, standing long jump and softball throw. Kids that placed in the top two spots for each event qualified for the Live Healthy Iowa Track Championship to be held in Marshalltown on June 1.
Wellness Center Assistant Director Tiffany Townsend said, “We had a wonderful event on Saturday! 108 kids showed up to compete, with kids showing up from 15 surrounding areas.” Those areas included Britt, Buffalo Center, Clear Lake, Dougherty, Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Ledyard, Mason City, Manly, Rockford, Swaledale, Thornton, Ventura and Webster City.
Townsend said that last year only 65 kids were signed up, so the event is definitely growing in popularity. Fortunately the skies were clear and it was a beautiful day for a track meet.
Although the ages were technically 6 to 14-years-old Townsend said they did have some parents register their 3-year-olds, so she set up a 50 meter race just for them. “The funniest thing [about the race] is trying to get them to stay in their lane,” she said.
The Clear Lake High School boys and girls track teams volunteered their time to help the Wellness Center put on two track clinics.
“Kids really enjoy learning about all the different aspects of track and field,” Townsend said.
In addition to the medals for 1st and 2nd place, Skips Kicks, an athletic shoe store on Clear Lake’s Main Street, was a challenge sponsor for the 1600 meter race. Townsend said that Skips Kicks owner Jo Shannon sponsors a lot of running events and this year she offered a $60 gift card to anyone that could run it in six minutes. Tate Tysdahl was the winner with a time of 5:45.
The following individuals, in all age levels, will be moving on to state meet on June 1 in Marshalltown.
50M: Hayden Riser, Kendall Riser, Kathryn Pritchard, Skyler Riser, Jack Pedersen, Kendric McMorris, Hudson Dorenkamp, Rhett Mortenson
100M: Kendall Riser, Arya Hennigar, Brooklyn Nelson, Jensyn McIntire, Harper Moran, Acea Moretenson, Raelyn Madsen, Bearett Collins, Jackson Fischer, Hudson Dorenkamp, Max Dodge, Drake Tysdahl, Leland Carlson, Quinn Otto, Gavin Dorenkamp
200M: Arya Hennigar, Peyton Colsrud, Jensyn McIntire, Emma Hedrick, Hallee Larkin, Gracie Vaske, Savery Miller, Elyn Nedved, Bearett Collins Harrison Hennigar, Max Dodge, Quinn Smith, Drake Tysdahl, Cohen McGrath, Tate Tysdahl, Gavin Dorenkamp
400M: Harrison Hennigar, Liam Jeffrey, Kendrick Collins, Lincoln Jeffrey, Cohen McGrath, Maxton Doughan, Addilynn Hedrick, Gracie Vaske, Kylie Trask, Ella Jones, Brooklyn Nelson, Savery Miller, Jillian Doolittle
800M: Lincoln Jeffrey, Brexten Pape, Max Doughan, Ruger Hill, Bennett LeDuc, Kylie Trask, Emerson Schoneman, Jillian Doolittle
1600M: Tate Tysdahl, Owen Cooper, Caden Ries, *Addilynn Hedrick
Long Jump: Charlotte Lewis, Shaelyn Laube, Jensyn McIntire, Ella Jones, Hallee Larkin, Bo Tanner, Savery Miller, Kyra Hamilton, Cody Wagner, Jackson Fischer, Brexton Pape, Hudson Dorenkamp, Carter Nelson, Drake Tysdahl, Tate Tysdahl, Quinn Otto
Softball Throw: Hayden Riser, Shaelyn Laube, Jayden Ashland, Lauren Kennedy, Gabby Coleman, Emerson Schoneman, RaeLynn Madsen, Elyn Nedved, Liam Jeffrey, Bearett Collins, Lincoln Jeffrey, Kendric McMorris, Ruger Hill and Carter Nelson
