PREP BOYS TRACK: Blue Devils roll in sectional
BISMARCK - The first IHSA Class 1A track sectional hosted by Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin on Thursday was almost like any other meet the Blue Devil boys team this season.
The depth of the team and the ability to excel in the field and track events were too much as they won the meet as a team and 13 athletes making next week's state track meet.
In the field events, Conner Powell won the shot put (16.27m), while Vince Lane was second in the discus (47.28m) and third in the shot put (15.04m) and Dylan Davis took second in the long jump (6.51m).
"Dylan started us off in field," BHRA coach Nathan West said. "We changed his run on the long jump and to see him hit an 6.5 meter jump is really nice. He got second and it was important going into state that he got his jump together. Conner and Vince had some great throws and both of them going in was nice."
In the running events, the Blue Devils won all of the relay events and had seniors Gavin High and Mason Cunningham trade wins in the 100 and 200 meter runs.
"I never had all four relay teams get to state in my career and I take a lot of pride in that," West said. "There is a handful of teams that can do it and it speaks to the quality of kids that we have."
High won the 100 with a time of 11.10 to beat out Cunningham's 11.15, while Cunningham won the 200 in 22.45 to beat out High's 22.90. Kyler Perez was third in the 300 hurdles (41.79) to also advance to Charleston.
The 400 team of Davis, Cunningham, Issac Cahill and High won in 43.10, while the 800 team of Cahill, Davis, High and Cunningham won in 1:31.73, the 1,600 team of Davis, Darin Farr, Hunter Black and Dylan Farr won in 3:31.23 and the 3,200 team of Devin Stroud, Dylan Farr, Micah Tidwell and Payton Wallace won in 8:49.60.
"I am lucky to have 14 seniors on the team and 8-9 actually competed tonight and the other five were out helping to run the event," West said. "We were hosting our first sectional and to run it smooth and match that quality on the track was great. Watching Gavin beat Mason in the first time in two years was amazing, but Mason got a big PR in the 200 and that helps with our relays. Isaac Cahill is running great right now. It is a fun time and we are as healthy as can be."
After a strong sectional like this, West said the focus will be more mental than physical leading into state.
"We just have to sharpen up a couple of things because we video all of the relays," West said. "We watch film and let the guy critique themselves. They can coach themselves better than I can at times. We watch together, but it is mostly rest and recovery so we can be ready on Thursday and hopefully next Saturday as well."
Salt Fork was second with Maddux Stine winning the discus (47.53m) and taking second in the shot put (15.16m) and Eli Reffett winning the 300 hurdles (41.23) and taking second in the 110 hurdles (15.18). Teammate Xander Swanson won the 110 hurdles (15.07), while the 400 team of Ezra Reffett, Eli Reffett, Brayden Pascual and Jacob Downing was second at 44.18 and the 200 team of Ezra Reffett, Downing, Pascual and Greyson Spezia was second at 1:35.
Hoopeston Area was third as Owen Garrett won the 3,200 (10:19) with Keenon Anderson taking second in the 400 (52.00).
Oakwood was fourth as Lucas Tyas won the 400 (51.00) and Sailer Harrison won the triple jump (12.53m) with Trevor McCall taking sixth in the 110 hurdles. While Harrison did not get a personal best, he is still coming off setting a school record that was important to him.
"I was hoping I would get better today. I had better jumps last week but I scratched on a few," Harrison said. "I was hoping it would transfer over, but I am doing my best either way.
"I have been consistent with around 41 inches and I wanted to get to my personal record of 43, but I got to 44 a few meets ago and that was my dad's and uncle's record. They have held it for years and they wanted me to continue it so it can be unbreakable."
When Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman's William Runyan scratched the event, it opened up Harrison for the win. But Harrison knows there will be more competition at Charleston next week.
"I like when I can have someone that I can be competitive with. I Hope I do great there as well," Harrison said.
Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman was fifth with Runyan winning the high jump (1.87m) and Aiden Morgan taking second in the 3,200 (10:23).
Armstrong-Potomac was tied for seventh with Isaac Kennel advancing by taking first in the pole vault (2.70m).
Schlarman Academy was ninth, but Noah Fowler was second in the high jump (1.85m), Mateo Villaester was second in the pole vault (2.70m) and Mark Lehmann was fifth in the 110 (15.93).
Fowler and Villaester will return next year, but Lehmann will not. Schlarman coach Wes Brown said the team will have some additions from the junior high team, who had some strong finishes in the IESA track meet.
"We are losing two, but we are getting some kids from the junior high team that have done well. The numbers are always low because of us sharing sports with baseball, but we are averaging 9-10 kids, but next year, we should add five more kids from junior high.
While freshman Marquan Pinkston did not qualify in the the 100, 200 and 400, Brown said it is only the start for him.
"Marquan is a true blessing," Brown said. "He is all in and committed and he has run some quality times this season."
Westville was 15th led by a win in the long jump by Easton Bolin (6.67m), who has pulled off big wins all season in the event.
"It kinda clicked this year. I struggled all last year, but this year we have clicked all year," Bolin said. "It is always great to go into sectionals and I look forward to going against the best.
"I have focused more on my steps and it has led to me jumping well. I am not disappointed at all. It is pretty exciting to go back to state. I went there last year and I underperformed and this year, I want to do as good as I want to do."
The Class 1A state track meet will start on May 28.
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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 2:23 PM.