By ADAM STEWART

News editor

The Marion Warriors boys’ track and field team won the Heart of America League on Friday at Bethel College in North Newton.

The throwers piled up points for the Warriors, contributing 47 of the team’s 131 points. Kyle Palic won discus and javelin with throws of 138 feet, 11 inches, and 155-7; he also placed fourth in shot put, 41-11.

Nick Meyer was second in discus, 136-11, and fifth in shot put, 41-9. Morgan Wheeler was second in shot put, 45-5, and sixth in discus, 125-5. John Nordquist was fourth and Adam Janzen was sixth in javelin, with throws of 144-1 and 141-10, respectively.

“For everything, you want all your kids having that internal competition to see who is the best, who can be the best,” coach Grant Thierolf said.

He was pleased to see that performance from Palic, a sophomore, because it shows the team is ready for the next couple of seasons. Thierolf said the throws have been an area of strength for the Warriors dating back to 2010 state discus champion Nick Klenda. Klenda decided it was important to leave a legacy of good throwers at Marion, so he took underclassmen under his wing and helped them train.

James Jones led the team in individual scoring, winning the long jump and triple jump with leaps of 21-10 and 42-4, respectively. He also placed second in the 200-meter dash at 23.58 seconds. Jones’ long jump broke a 36-year-old league meet record.

Patrick McCarty was second in the 400-meters, 52.75, and fourth in long jump, 20 feet. Braden Fahey was fifth in the 400, 56.77.

Jordan Hett was second in the 3,200 meters, 10:22.1, and third in the 1,600, 4:44.7. Timothy Knolla was fifth in the 3,200, 11:01.2, and sixth in the 1,600, 4:52.9. Brody Carroll was fifth in the 300-meter hurdles, 43.08.

Zach Hammond, 12 feet, Seth Snelling, 11-6, and Tyler Neufeld, 10-6, placed second, third, and sixth, respectively, in pole vault.

The 4x800 relay of Hett, Neufeld, McCarty, and Carroll placed third, 8:32.9. The 4x100 team of Neufeld, Quinton Hett, Seth Snelling, and Carroll was sixth, 48.09.

Girls place fifth

The Marion girls placed fifth out of 10 teams in the league.

Katey Ehrlich placed second in the 300 hurdles, 50.34, and fourth in triple jump, 31-3. Kirsten Hansen placed second in the 100 hurdles, 17.15, and fourth in pole vault, 8-6.

Alicia Maloney won pole vault at 10 feet. Breanna Doyle was sixth in the 100 hurdles, 23.27.

Marshelle Mermis was fourth in long jump, 15-5, fourth in the 400, 1:01.4, and fifth in the 200, 27.45. Erika Hess was sixth in high jump, 4-4. Julia Hall was fifth in triple jump, 30-9. Kelli Hess was sixth in the 400, 1:04.7.

McKenzee Remmers was third in the 1,600, 5:57.9, and sixth in the 3,200, 13:15.9. Kristen Herzet was sixth in discus, 90-9, and sixth in shot put, 29-9.

The 4x400 relay team of Ehrlich, Hansen, Kelli Hess, and Mermis placed fourth at 4:14.82. The 4x100 team of Emily Schneider, Ehrlich, Hansen, and hall placed fifth at 52.77.