Boys Track: Hudson boys overcome busy week, post PRs and podium finishes

By Blaire Puls  

Under ideal spring conditions, the Hudson boys track and field team turned in a strong  performance Tuesday, April 21, at Dike-New Hartford, placing eighth out of 14 teams with 48  points.  

Despite a shortened lineup, Hudson delivered a productive night highlighted by 13  personal records and six top-five finishes. The performance came during a busy week that  included prom for much of the team and an FFA Convention trip for several athletes, making  the results even more notable.  

Leading the way was Owen Bell, who recorded two runner-up finishes. Bell posted a  nearly one-second personal best in the 400 meters and followed with another PR in the 200.  Drake Griffin continued his consistency in the long jump, earning a third-place finish,  while Hudson’s sprint relays also delivered strong performances. The 4x100-meter relay team  of Hunter Coulson, Griffin, Jackson Nesteby and Bell placed fourth, and the sprint medley relay  of Coulson, Nesteby, Griffin and Bell finished fifth, just shy of a season-best time. The 4x200  relay added a sixth-place finish, and the 4x400 team placed eighth.  

Rylan Dunbar continued his strong season in the hurdles, placing fourth in the 110- meter highs. After rarely making the fast heat a year ago, Dunbar has made significant progress  this season, consistently finishing near the top of the field.  

Liam Rhymer added a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters with a personal-best time,  while Nesteby placed sixth in the long jump.  

Hudson’s distance medley relay placed eighth, and several athletes recorded notable  personal bests, including Coulson and Dunbar in the 100 meters, Holbach and Carter Swanson  in the shot put, and split PRs from Cooper Hamer, Cooper Steele and Colten Jensen.  

Hudson’s scheduled meet at BCLUW on April 23 was canceled due to weather. A select  group of eight athletes then competed at the Drake Relays in Des Moines after qualifying at the  Hudson Relays on April 16.  

Competing among the state’s top 4x100-meter relay teams April 25, the Hudson quartet  of Coulson, Griffin, Nesteby and Bell placed 84th with a time of 44.66, improving from their No.  91 ranking entering the event. Alternates included Liam Rhymer, Rylan Dunbar, Payton Bishop  and Cooper Hamer.  

With one regular-season meet remaining Friday at Hampton-Dumont, Hudson is  building momentum heading into the NICL Mega Conference meet May 7 at East Marshall,  followed by the Class 2A state qualifier May 14 at Hudson.  

Dike-New Hartford results: Team: 8th (48 points)  

Long Jump — Drake Griffin, 3rd, 21-1.25; Jackson Nesteby, 6th, 19-3.25  

Shot Put — Jack Holbach, 13th, 38-6; Grady Moseley, 16th, 38-2.5; Carter Swanson,  18-11; Max Schroeder, 21st (JV), 27-6; Karson Loeb, 22nd (JV), 26-7  

Discus — Grady Moseley, 20th, 101-0; Jack Holbach, 24th, 91-0; Max Schroeder, 18th  (JV), 79-0; Karson Loeb, 19th (JV), 69-0 

Sprint Medley Relay — 5th, 1:37.8 (Hunter Coulson, Jackson Nesteby, Drake Griffin,  Owen Bell); JV 2nd, 1:44.64 (Liam Rhymer, Cooper Hamer, Rylan Dunbar, Cooper Steele)  100 — Hunter Coulson, 13th, 11.7; Rylan Dunbar, 16th, 12.16; Carter Swanson, 15.25  

Distance Medley — 8th, 4:21.76 (Cooper Steele, Casey Greiman, Colten Jensen, Alik  Dodge)  

400 — Owen Bell, 2nd, 51.06; Liam Rhymer, 5th, 54.1; Carter Swanson, 1:13.84  4x200 Relay — 6th, 1:36.44 (Coulson, Griffin, Nesteby, Hamer)  

110 High Hurdles — Rylan Dunbar, 4th, 16.44  

800 — Casey Greiman, 12th, 2:18.88; Colten Jensen, 17th, 2:26.88  

200 — Owen Bell, 2nd, 23.01; Liam Rhymer, 16th, 25.2; Carter Swanson, 33.8  1600 — Alik Dodge, 15th, 5:42.58  

4x100 Relay — 4th, 44.37 (Coulson, Griffin, Nesteby, Bell)  

4x400 Relay — 8th, 3:50.08 (Rhymer, Steele, Dunbar, Hamer)  

Drake Relays results  

4x100 Relay — 84th, 44.66 (Hunter Coulson, Drake Griffin, Jackson Nesteby, Owen Bell)