Joens scrambles, still claims discus crown

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Sam Joens was forced into the express version of warming up.

"I thought I was going to get to warm up, then warm up again," said the discus thrower from Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The junior varsity originally was scheduled to throw first in the discus, then the varsity second.

Plans changed. So Joens and his competitors had to scramble.

Joens didn't have his best throw of the season. But he had the best throw in the field -- 161 feet, 9 1/2 inches -- to claim gold at the the Wilkinson Relays boys' track meet Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

"A week ago, I'd have thought this was a pretty good throw," he said. "But then I PR'd (at a state-best 170-6) at Iowa City West (on Tuesday). So this is something that can definitely be improved upon.

"I think I can definitely improve before (the) Drake (Relays)."

Joens is battling a minor shoulder issue, which kept him out of the shot put Friday.

"I think I'll start it up again soon," he said. "It might be an every-other-meet kind of thing."

Even with hurdling star Kyle Dunn out of action, Linn-Mar handily headed the 10-team field, scoring 133 points. Des Moines Hoover was second with 92 points, followed by host Cedar Rapids Washington (90).

Dunn, a senior headed to the University of Arkansas, sat out while nursing a pair of sore hamstrings.

"It was pretty chilly and I didn't want to take any chances," he said.

The Lions won four events, including a title by freshman Josh Evans in the 1,600-meter run.

Evans ran to the front immediately and finished in a career-best 4:32.14.

"I always want to make sure I'm pushing hard," he said. "Instead of easing up, I want to push all the way through."

Presumably, a growth spurt awaits Evans, who is a slender 5-foot-5 and 105 pounds.

"I hope, when it comes, it makes my sprint a little better," he said.

Other winners for Linn-Mar were Nick Lucas in the 400, Nick Gentzler in the 800 and the 3,200-meter relay team.

WILKINSON RELAYS

At Kingston Stadium

Teams -- 1. Linn-Mar 133, 2. Des Moines Hoover 92, 3. C.R. Washington 90, 4. C.R. Prairie 62, 5. Dubuque Wahlert 56, 6. C.R. Kennedy 41, 7. (tie) C.R. Jefferson and C.R. Xavier 32, 9. Waterloo East 23, 10. Marion 17.

Shot put -- 1. Shaquille Wells (DMH), 45-8; 2. Jack Halupnick (LM), 45-2; 3. Chase Kleopfer (CRX), 44-3; Discus -- 1. Sam Joens (CRP), 161-9 1/2; 2. Dan Sisler (DW), 139-0; 3. Craig Murtha (CRX), 129-3 1/2; High jump -- 1. Tylor White (WE), 6-2; 2. Shane Hodges (WE), 6-0; 3. Miles Barton (CRW), 5-11; Long jump -- 1. Robert Hogg (CRW), 20-11; 2. Onterier Brown (DMH), 20-9 3/4; 3. Colton Sanchez (LM), 19-6.

3,200 -- 1. Fadi Angelo (DMH), 9:56.72; 2. Jordan Burns (CRP), 10:03.63; 3. Taylor Mueller (CRJ), 10:10.39;

3,200 relay -- 1. Linn-Mar (Grabau, Gentzler, Trenary, Razo), 8:14.93; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 8:17.30; 3. C.R. Prairie, 8:17.50;

Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. C.R. Washington (Hickok, Sailor, Vega, Johnson), 1:00.70; 2. Linn-Mar, 1:01.29; 3. C.R. Kennedy, 1:01.94;

100 -- 1. Will Griffin (CRW), 11.17; 2. Nate Karlan (CRJ), 11.32; 3. Onterier Brown (DMH), 11.33;

400 -- 1. Nick Lucas (LM), 50.52; 2. Shay Belle (DMH), 50.73; 3. Matt Stocker (CRP), 50.74;

800 relay -- 1. Des Moines Hoover (Silliman, Brown, Willis, Van Cleave), 1:29.43; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:30.95; 3. C.R. Kennedy, 1:32.48;

110 hurdles -- 1. Carter Valentine (CRX), 15.25; 2. Brandon Ophoff (LM), 15.35; 3. Drake Hickok (CRW), 15.77;

1,600 -- 1. Josh Evans (LM), 4:32.14; 2. Thomas Singer (CRK), 4:36.50; 3. Matt Simon (LM), 4:38.68;

200 -- 1. Kaleb Van Cleave (DMH), 22.64; 2. Rodney Silliman (DMH), 22.87; 3. Will Griffin (CRW), 22.94;

400 hurdles -- 1. Jacob Losch (CRK), 56.74; 2. Brandon Ophoff (LM), 57.05; 3. Tom Frieden (CRP), 57.39;

1,600 medley relay -- 1. C.R. Prairie (Delamuth, Beyer, M. Stocker, K.Stocker), 3:37.89; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 3:43.73; 3. C.R. Jefferson, 3:44.12;

800 -- 1. Nick Gentzler (LM), 2:03.23; 2. Jabez Walker (LM), 2:03.99; 3. Zach Burhite (Mar), 2:04.03;

400 relay -- 1. Des Moines Hoover (Silliman, Van Cleave, Willis, Brown), 43.51; 2. C.R. Washington, 43.92; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 44.56;

1,600 relay -- 1. Des Moines Hoover (Belle, Silliman, Philip, Van Cleave), 3:24.30; 2. Linn-Mar, 3:31.44; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 3:34.04.