Kennedy boys win five events at MVC indoor track meet

CEDAR FALLS – After a top-10 finish in the high jump at state last season, Cedar Rapids Kennedy sophomore Shawn Beyer is far from content.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound multi-sport athlete cleared 6-feet-2 to win the high jump to lead Kennedy to five event wins at the Mississippi Valley Conference boys' indoor track meet Monday at the UNI-Dome.

"I was happy I got 6-2," Beyer said. "But I wanted to get 6-4 bad, because that would have definitely qualified me for Drake (Relays)."

Beyer also anchored the Kennedy shuttle hurdle relay team to a win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 34.36 seconds.

"We've got some pretty high expectations for our shuttle team to do some great things this year," Kennedy Coach Brian White said. "He certainly will be a big part of that."

White, who begins his first season as Kennedy head football coach this fall, says Beyer will also be an integral part of his football team, most likely at free safety.

"You've got to have kids like that," White said. "Whether on the track or on the football field. Kids that want to win are going to find a place on the field."

Beyer will also compete in the long jump this spring, but he cites the high jump as his preferred event.

"I really like high jump just because I've had such great success," Beyer said. "Started when I was real little at the Cedar Rapids Track Club."

Beyer manages the transition from football to track through a Performance P.E. class that allows him to lift weights during the school day, and avoids shin splints with ice treatments.  He credits the Kennedy athletic trainers and the focus that is placed on proper nutrition as key elements in readying himself for track competition. 

While no team scores were kept, Kennedy's Famiek Cook won both the long jump and 200 dash.  Another pair of Metro schools – Cedar Rapids Washington (3200) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (400) – each won relays. Iowa City West denied Washington a second relay win by winning the medley in 3:35.56, just .09 ahead of the Warriors.

Kennedy closed the event with a 1600 relay victory in 3:36.13.