Ben Kampman’s discus title at state track and field meet is worth flipping over

DES MOINES — Ben Kampman was riding high after a 200-foot discus effort in April.

And then ...

“I sort of fell off the cliff,” he said.

Kampman picked himself up, dusted himself off and went back to work.

“I tried to focus on being methodical on every throw instead of just getting into the ring and hucking it,” he said.

The Solon High School senior was part of an area boys’ championship bonanza Thursday at the state track and field meet, winning the 3A boys’ discus title with an effort of 186 feet, 3 inches.

That was almost 7 feet clear from the rest of the field.

“I’m just really happy, feeling like I got it done,” said Kampman, a Duke University recruit, who celebrated the title with a backflip. “I wanted to be more relaxed than I was at (the) Drake (Relays).

Solon finds itself in the lead pack of the 3A boys’ team race at the conclusion of the first day’s five events.

Pella is the pacesetter with 21 points. Then it’s Wamac Conference rivals Solon (20), Williamsburg (17) and Center Point-Urbana (15) in second, third and fourth.

Kampman was joined on the Day 1 winners’ podium by Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman (3,200 meters) and Center Point-Urbana’s 3,200-meter relay.

  Buy Photo

Nauman, a sophomore, soared to No. 4 all-time in the 3,200, using a 59-second closing lap to pull away from Pella’s Canaan Dunham and winning in 8 minutes, 54.11 seconds.

“I didn’t know my time until I looked up at the board,” Nauman said. “I saw it and said, ‘What?’

“It’s really cool. Sub-9 has always been a goal. I put it on the ceiling last night.”

Nauman stayed a stride behind Dunham throughout the race before surging with 300 meters to go.

“He knows pacing better than I do,” Nauman said. “He’s such a great runner.”

  Buy Photo

Third runner Blayze Havel ran the pivotal leg on CPU’s 4x800, putting the Stormin’ Pointers ahead for good. Cooper Grimm, Jack Witte, Havel and Peyton Stowers ran in 7:57.39.

“I just wanted to Peyton up to win,” Havel said.

As for Stowers: “I wanted to cook, just cook. Pray and go.”

South Tama was second in 7:59.78, with Iowa State recruit Tommy Tyynismaa anchoring in 1:52-plus.

Sophomore Ty Patterson tied for second in the high jump, earning a personal best and school record at 6 feet, 7 inches.

“It was a really good day to jump. I was a little nervous. I was looking for top-three today, and I really wanted that school record.

Patterson jumped 7 inches higher this year than he had as a freshman.

Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf was second in the discus and fourth in the high jump. Maquoketa’s Ty Hardin was the 400-meter runner-up.

In addition to Kampman’s crown, Solon also got a third-place effort in its 4x800 and fifth place from Brick Kabela in the 3,200 to rise into early contention.

Recommended Reading

Mount Vernon leads 3A girls’ state track and field team race after Day 1

State track and field: Class 3A Boys

At Des Moines (Drake Stadium)

Top 10 teams (through 5 events) — 1. Pella 21, 2. Solon 20, 3. Williamsburg 17, 4. Center Point-Urbana 15, 5. Fairfield 12, 6. Lewis Central 11, 7. (tie) Western Dubuque and Carlisle 10, 9. Benton Community, 10. (tie) Clear Creek Amana, Maquoketa and South Tama 8.

High jump — 1. Eli Zillman (Fairfield), 6-9; 2. (tie) Wanding Hosnyang (Le Mars) and Eli Patterson (Benton Community), 6-7; 4. Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg), 6-7.

3,200 — 1. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 8:54.11; 2. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 9:00.93; 3. Ethan Eichhorn (Lewis Central), 9:18.35; 5. Brick Kabela (Solon), 9:18.44.

Discus — 1. Ben Kampman (Solon), 186-3; 2. Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg), 179-8; 3. Hanson King (Pella), 175-8; 4. Landon Prince (Clear Creek Amana), 167-11; 7. Brennen Blegen (Benton Community), 161-8.

3,200 relay — 1. Center Point-Urbana (Grimm, Witte, Havel, Stowers), 7:57.39; 2. South Tama, 7:59.78; 3. Solon, 8:00.48; 6. Clear Creek Amana, 8:07.34.

400 — 1. Braedin Zondervan (Carlisle), 48.31; 2. Tye Hardin (Maquoketa), 48.86; 3. Tom Scherr (Dubuque Wahlert), 49.08; 4. Nathan Miller (Center Point-Urbana), 49.33; 5. Rayce Heitman (Williamsburg), 49.62.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com