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They’re Ready

Hawks’ Drake-bound 4x800 relay runs 8:12 at Bengal Relays

South Hamilton senior Logan Peters (right) holds a lead over Madrid’s Sean McDermott (behind on left) as they near the exchange zone during the 4x800-meter relay at Monday’s Bengal Relays in Gilbert. Peters handed the baton to Conner Hill, and they teamed with Cole Berg and Quinton Grove to win the race. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

GILBERT — Four days before its Drake Relays run, it was a challenge South Hamilton’s 4×800-meter relay both needed and welcomed.

The weather conditions, well, they were another story.

With a chill in the air, the winds whipping and a few rain showers thrown in for good measure at Monday’s Gilbert Bengal Relays, the group of Logan Peters, Conner Hill, Cole Berg and Quinton Grove showed they’re ready to tackle the state’s best quartets on the blue oval Friday evening.

Pushed by Madrid on every turn and at every exchange, the Hawks showcased their mettle with a gold-medal run of 8:12.89, three seconds ahead of the Tigers and just two seconds off their Drake Relays qualifying time (8:10.57) set in ideal conditions in Iowa City earlier this month.

“It was a good challenge for us,” Peters, who opened the relay with a team-best split of 2:01.3 said. “If we all run (at Drake) like we did (on Monday), we’ll be OK.”

South Hamilton’s Zakee Newman (left) wins the 3,200-meter run at Monday’s Bengal Relays in Gilbert. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Hill, Berg and Grove all turned in splits between 2:03 and 2:04, and all three fended off their Madrid counterparts down the straightaway. South Hamilton led at every exchange.

Peters had a particularly imposing challenge against Madrid’s Sean McDermott, the Class 2A state cross country champion, on the opening leg. Peters allowed McDermott to take the lead over the opening 410 meters and then powered into the lead on the backstretch.

“I was going to go out and lead it, but I figured when he took off he’d be a good wind blocker,” Peters said. “Me and McDermott will probably meet up in the 800, the 1,600 and the 4×800, so to see him run and the rest of their team run is big.”

South Hamilton will run on Friday against 15 other programs in Des Moines, 14 of which are Class 4A schools. The other is 3A Dubuque Wahlert. Peters says the Hawks have one goal in mind.

“The school record, that’s the big goal,” he said. “We were three-tenths off it at Iowa City, so we want that.”

South Hamilton high jumper Carter Hewitt sneaks over the bar at the opening height during Monday’s Bengal Relays in Gilbert. He finished one spot out of the medals in fourth place. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

South Hamilton won six events, scored 132 points and placed second behind Madrid (223) in the team race Monday evening.

Hill, Brandyn Feighner and Zakee Newman were all individual winners for the Hawks. Hill breezed to 800-meter gold in 2:06.77, Feighner won the long jump (19 feet, 2 inches) and Newman put together a strong final lap to claim the 3,200 (10:19.81).

“I thought Zakee had his best night and he’s been sick,” South Hamilton head coach Darrell Paulsen said.

The Hawks also secured gold in the 4×400 (3:39.00) and distance medley (3:53.99) relays. Freddie Lewis was a part of both relays. Hill, Berg and Peters completed the 4×400; Grove, Brock Galetich and Sam Lewis rounded out the medley.

Freddie Lewis took a lap in the 400 low hurdles and placed second (1:01.22). Silver also went to Zeke Balderas in the discus (110-3) and Berg in the 400 (55.33).

Nic Flaugh (left) reaches back for the baton from Cade Murphy during the sprint medley relay on Monday. South Hamilton took fifth. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“That’s the first time Freddie’s run the 400 hurdles all year and I thought that was really good,” Paulsen said.

McDermott got the better of his match-up with Peters in the 1,600. McDermott won the race, while Peters settled for bronze in 4:43.94.

Sam Lewis was also third in the 200 (24.74).

Gilbert Bengal Relays

Monday at Gilbert

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Class B Team Standings

1. Madrid 223; 2. South Hamilton 132; 3. Van Meter 108; 4. Ogden 1001⁄2; 5. Colo-NESCO 761⁄2; 6. Roland-Story Red 45; 7. Collins-Maxwell 29; 8. Gilbert JV 13.

South Hamilton Results

Discus — 2. Zeke Balderas 110-3; 7. Cade Flaugh 99-4.

Shot Put — 6. C. Flaugh 39-10.

Long Jump — 1. Brandyn Feighner 19-2.

High Jump — 4. Carter Hewitt 5-4.

100 Meters — 10. Nathan Wilson 13.10.

200 Meters — 3. Sam Lewis 24.74; 5. Brock Galetich 25.11.

400 Meters — 2. Cole Berg 55.33; 9. Ty Skartvedt 1:00.10.

800 Meters — 1. Conner Hill 2:06.77.

1,600 Meters — 3. Logan Peters 4:43.94; 4. Quinton Grove 4:49.08.

3,200 Meters — 1. Zakee Newman 10:19.81; 9. Clay Willadsen 12:10.51.

110 High Hurdles — 4. Feighner 17.23; 9. Tanner Blue 18.33.

400 Low Hurdles — 2. F. Lewis 1:01.22.

4×100 Relay — 5. South Hamilton 48.47 (Galetich, S. Lewis, Ethan Young, Feighner).

4×200 Relay — 5. South Hamilton 1:49.65 (Evan Winkler, Austin Busch, Preston Stoecker, Young).

4×400 Relay — 1. South Hamilton 3:39.00 (F. Lewis, Hill, Berg, Peters).

4×800 Relay — 1. South Hamilton 8:12.89 (Peters, Hill, Berg, Grove).

Sprint Medley Relay — 5. South Hamilton 1:51.50 (Cade Murphy, N. Flaugh, Skartvedt, Busch).

Distance Medley Relay — 1. South Hamilton 3:53.99 (Galetich, S. Lewis, Grove, F. Lewis).

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