Lowell boys track team’s performance at the conference meet didn’t bring a conference championship, but for a struggling program it did offer some hope for what the future may hold.
The Red Arrows placed fourth with 79 points behind East Grand Rapids, 95; Greenville, 130; and O-K White champion Grand Rapids Christian 213.5.
“The boys scored 39 points more than a year ago,” said Lowell track coach Sarah Ellis. “We had some excellent finishes. They are really starting to see some of their hard work pay off, and I believe they are excited about how much better they are than last year.”
The Red Arrows garnered two conference championship performances in the high jump and long jump.
Matt Kyllonen easily captured the high jump by clearing a height of 6-0. His closest competitor bowed out at 5-1.
Robby Coffey claimed league honors with a winning pole vault of 12-0 and lifting him past East Grand Rapids’ Chris Sims (11-6).
Leighton Watson finished second in the long jump and third in the shot put.
Watson best throw of the day in the shot was 42-5 1/2. Greenville’s Justin Zimmer won the event with a distance of 49-7 1/4.
Watson’s mark of 20-7 1/2 in the long jump was second only to Jaylin Staten (20-1) of East. Red Arrow Jacob Meyer was fourth with a jump of 20-5 1/2.
Lowell’s 3200-meter relay team stopped the clock in its best time (8:47.8) of the year to finish fifth.
Matt Kyllonen continued his fine season with a second in the 400-meter run. He came home in 52.15. Sean O’Brien (Greenville) won the race in 50.68. Kyllonen came home in sixth place in the 200-meter dash with a personal best time of 23.44.
Lowell’s Bryce Hrusovsky came in second in the 100M hurdles with a time of 16.64 and seventh in the 300M hurdles, stopping the clock in 45.23,
Capturing all-conference honors for Lowell were Hrusovsky, Watson, Kyllonen, and Coffey.
Ellis was pleased with her team’s tournament performance and with their overall improvement throughout the regular season.
“It’s the same kids, but now they have that glimmer of a winning attitude. It’s going to take more time and hard work, but I think they see much more potential in themselves and their teammates now,” Ellis explained.
The 800-meter relay team (Kyllonen, Watson, Meyer and Brower) had its best time all year, 135.59, and came in third.
Ben Partridge posted a PR in the mile, with a time of a 4:59 while Martin Brubaker had a PR (10:47) in the 3200 run.
John Mark also recorded a PR in the 3200, coming home in 11:12.
In other events:
Robert Becker came in 8th in the 400 run with a 55.64, Jacob Khodl was 10th in the 400 with a 56.45, Sean Khodl was seventh in the 800 with a 2:06.63, Zach Rose was a close ninth in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.63, and Liam Kelley had a 48.4.
Filed under: Lowell, Track & Field
