Kole Becker repeats as 1A boys’ state long jump champion as Lisbon takes early team lead

Lisbon's Kole Becker lands in the long jump pit on his way to winning the 1A long jump at the 2022 Iowa High School Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Becker jumped 23-02.25. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

DES MOINES — One-quarter of an inch.

That’s all that separated Lisbon’s Kole Becker from matching a Class 1A state record in the long jump Thursday in the boys’ state track and field meet at Drake Stadium.

No matter. The future Iowa State decathlete still repeated as champion, out jumping second-place Alex Pitts of Bellevue by more than a foot.

“I’m definitely going to ride this confidence right now,” said Becker, who notched a top jump of 23 feet and 2 1/4 inches.

Becker and the Lions carried high hopes into the three-day event and ended Thursday atop the 1A team standings with 21 points. New London stood second with 20 points and Earlham ranked third with 18.

Lisbon's Kole Becker (center) sprints to the finish line to take third place during the 1A 400-meter run at the 2022 Iowa High School Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Becker ran 49.76. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Becker later recorded a personal best in the 400 meters (49.76), but finished third behind Ryce Reynolds of Mount Ayr (49.22) and Theo Moseman of Lawton-Bronson (49.75).

“I was hoping to win,” Becker said. “But everyone does.”

Lisbon’s 3,200-meter relay placed fourth in a time of 8:23.55 to help bolster the team’s hopes of building toward a state title. The Lions finished second last season.

“If I go out and do what I usually do in my other two events, we should be good,” said Becker, who also will try to repeat as champion in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles.

Becker won four events at state last year and his versatility serves as one reason the Cyclones want him to compete in the decathlon after he graduates from Lisbon.

“I like being good at multiple things,” he said.

Other area boys’ 1A top-eight finishers Thursday:

Cy Huber of Maquoketa Valley took fifth in the 400, finishing in 50.95 seconds. Huber also helped the Wildcats finish fifth in the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 8:27.40.

North Cedar’s Ethan Thimmes took seventh in the shot put with a personal-record throw of 49 feet.

Thursday results, Class 1A boys

Top 10 teams (through 5 events): 1. Lisbon 21, 2. New London 20, 3. Earlham 18, 4. Ogden 15, 5. Bellevue 13, T-6. Saint Ansgar 10, T-6. Mount Ayr 10, 8. Maquoketa Valley 9, T-9. Lawton-Bronson 8, T-9. Wapello 8.

3,200-meter run: 1. Riley Witt (Saint Ansgar) 9:38.95; 2. Dominic Braet (Earlham) 9:43.49; 3. Alexander Julian (New London) 9:43.99.

3,200-meter relay: 1. Earlham (Hale, Matchem, Braet, Dickson), 8:04.95; 2. New London, 8:11.57; 3. Madrid, 8:19.44; 4. Lisbon, 8:23.55; 5. Maquoketa Valley, 8:27.40.

Long jump: 1. Kole Becker (Lisbon) 23-02.25; 2. Alex Pitts (Bellevue) 22-01.25; 3. Carter Sievers (Newell-Fonda) 21-05.50.

Shot put: 1. Abraham Christensen (Ogden) 53-06.50; 2. Ryan McDonough (Wapello) 52-04; 3. Carter Allen (New London) 52-03.50.

400-meter run: 1. Ryce Reynolds (Lount Ayr) 49.22; 2. Theo Moseman (Lawton-Bronson) 49.75; 3. Kole Becker (Lisbon) 49.76.