The Dike-New Hartford boys track & field team will be represented by four events at this week’s state meet, and Head Coach Will Reingardt is proud of the progress the relatively young team has made.
The 4×400-meter relay of Cameron Decker, Colin Meester, Tyson Bennett and Devon Lotts ran their best race of the season when it mattered most, placing second at last week’s state qualifying meet in 3:29.09.
“We cut four seconds off our best time and seven seconds from the conference meet with the same lineup,” Reingardt says. “So we were super excited to come out with an automatic qualifier in that. That’s been a race we’ve been working on all year and it slowly made some progress but finally did a big jump tonight and just those four guys in there really wanted it and have been working hard. It’s good to see that progress pay off.”
Lotts, Meester, Decker and Jacob Burch qualified in the 4×200-meter relay after winning the event in 1:31.97 at the state qualifying meet, a new PR.
Decker will compete in the 200-meter dash after placing second in 22.80 at the state qualifying meet. Reingardt is proud to see one of his seniors qualify in an open event.
“For Cam to have an individual event down there for his senior year is something that we wanted to make sure he had a chance on. He did a really good job getting around the curve and bringing it home. I’m super happy for Cam and his efforts and what he’s meant to DNH track and field over the years. And just glad to see his hard work pay off for him because he’s busted his tail for offseasons and, you know, everything else to be in this moment. And he’s going to have a great career at Wartburg College too.”
Tyson Bennett was an at-large qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles after placing third at the state qualifying meet.
The Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships will be Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium.
Interview with Reingardt:
