Pirate Boys Track Opens Season with Strong Performances

by Blaire Puls 

The 2026 track and field season began Feb. 24 with unusually warm weather that felt more like spring than late winter. Fast forward a few weeks, and the conditions have swung the other direction as winter weather seems to come and go almost daily. Despite the changing temperatures, excitement around the program is high as the Pirate boys track team returns with a much larger roster and a promising start to the season. 

The Pirates have 25 team members out this year, including 11 newcomers—an encouraging jump from last year’s roster of just 16 athletes. That added depth was on full display during the team’s first indoor competition of the year at Wartburg College on March 9, where the Pirates competed against 25 teams from across Iowa. 

The Pirates turned in an impressive opening night highlighted by 11 lifetime-best performances, one gold medal, two top-10 finishes, and several top-15 finishes. 

Leading the way was Owen Bell, who captured the gold medal in the 400-meter dash. Bell narrowly missed  his lifetime best from last season in his first 400 of 2026, signaling another strong year ahead. The Pirates also found success in relay competition. The 4x200-meter relay team of Bell, Jackson Nesteby, Brady Greiman and Hunter Coulson finished seventh. 

Nesteby also added an individual top-10 finish, placing ninth in the long jump with a leap that already surpasses where he began last season. 

Cooper Hamer cleared a lifetime best in the high jump to place 13th in his first high school meet. The 4x800 relay team of Colten Jensen, Casey Greiman, Zion Simmer and Alik Dodge finished 15th, highlighted by Jensen opening the race with an 18-second lifetime best in the 800 meters after returning to the sport  following a year away. 

Liam Rhymer shaved nearly a full second off his personal best in the 200 meters to place 15th, while Rylan  Dunbar opened his season with what converts to a lifetime best in the high hurdles. Jack Holbach tossed a lifetime  best in the shot put, with a throw more than a foot farther than his previous best. 

The Pirates carried that momentum into the IATC State Indoor Championships in Ames on March 13,  where several athletes qualified after posting top marks in Class 2A. 

Qualifiers included Grady Moseley in the shot put, Nesteby in the long jump, Coulson in the 60 meters,  Dunbar in the 60-meter high hurdles, and Bell in the 60, 200 and 400 meters. The Pirates also qualified a 4x100  relay team of Coulson, Nesteby, Rhymer and Bell, with Dunbar and B. Greiman serving as alternates. 

Competing against some of the best athletes in the state, the Pirates represented themselves well. Bell once again led the way, recording three lifetime bests in the 60, 200 and 400 meters. After being added  late to the 60-meter field due to a scratch, Bell seized the opportunity with a top-12 finish among 40 qualifiers. He  also earned a top-12 finish in the 200 meters and shattered his previous 400-meter lifetime best by more than a  second to earn seventh place. 

Dunbar continued to build confidence in the hurdles, placing 28th out of 40 competitors in the 60-meter  hurdles, despite never previously racing that specific indoor distance. His time converts to what would be a lifetime  best in the outdoor 110-meter hurdles. 

Coulson gained valuable experience in the 60 meters before returning to help lead off the Pirates’ 4x100  relay. The quartet of Coulson, Nesteby, Rhymer and Bell placed 19th. With Bell being the only returning member of  that specific relay from last season, the coaching staff was pleased with how the group handled the moment and  executed their handoffs. 

Moseley finished 21st in the shot put, improving his mark by nearly a foot from his throw earlier in the  week at Wartburg. Nesteby placed 22nd in the long jump after battling a challenging night on the runway but  bounced back to contribute to the relay effort.

With a strong opening to the season and a large group of athletes continuing to improve, the Pirates appear  poised to build momentum as the outdoor season approaches. The early results—especially from a roster featuring  many newcomers—are an encouraging sign of what could be an exciting spring for the program. 

Looking ahead, fans can catch the Pirates at home for boys meets on April 9 and April 16. The team will  also compete in the MEGA NICL Conference Meet at East Marshall on May 7 and the State Qualifying Meet at  home on May 14. For the full meet schedule, visit the Hudson school calendar online. 

Wartburg Invitational March 9 Results 

Long jump 

 9. Jackson Nesteby — 18-11½ 

21. Brady Greiman — 17-1¼ 

High jump 

13. Cooper Hamer — 5-4 

Shot put 

17. Grady Moseley — 40-4½ 

40. Jack Holbach — 33-7 

55m hurdles 

15. Rylan Dunbar — 9.04 

55m dash 

15. Hunter Coulson — 7.02 

44. Carter Swanson — 8.68 

4x800 relay 

15. Colten Jensen, Casey Greiman, Zion Simmer, Alik Dodge — 10:04.75 

200m dash 

15. Liam Rhymer — 25.19 

35. Payton Bishop — 26.92 

1,600m run 

30. Colten Jensen — 5:45.97 

34. Alik Dodge — 5:54.61 

400m dash 

1. Owen Bell — 53.27 

2. Cooper Steele — 1:02.18 

800m run 

16. Casey Greiman — 2:23.62 

37. Zion Simmer — 2:42.27 

4x200 relay 

7. Owen Bell, Jackson Nesteby, Brady Greiman, Hunter Coulson — 1:39.76

4x400 relay 

14. Liam Rhymer, Cooper Hamer, Payton Bishop, Rylan Dunbar — 3:54.64

IATC Indoor Championships March 13 Results 

Long jump 

22. Jackson Nesteby — 18-3½ 

Shot put 

21. Grady Moseley — 41-0¼ 

60m hurdles 

28. Rylan Dunbar — 9.5 

60m dash 

12. Owen Bell — 7.3 

38. Hunter Coulson — 7.77 

400m dash 

7. Owen Bell — 52.23 

200m dash 

12. Owen Bell — 23.39 

4x100 relay 

19. Hunter Coulson, Jackson Nesteby, Liam Rhymer, Owen Bell — 45.97