Hamik, Bertelsen busy bodies
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Sunday, April 22, 2007
Great track and field expectations follow Jake Hamik.
And, after an ironman two-day effort by Eric Bertelsen, Buena Vista track and field fans soon may come to expect even greater performances from the sophomore from Polk City (North Polk High School).
Northern State's Hamik, named the outstanding men's college performer in the 2006 Sioux City Relays, was equally dazzling this time around the swift all-weather oval at Olsen Stadium.
The junior out of Aberdeen Roncalli High School broke his own meet record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles Friday night (:52.42), then added the 110-meter high sticks title and a swift anchor carry on a winning 4x400 relay as the 43rd running of the Relays came to a close Saturday.
Hamik won the high hurdles for the second straight year, this time in 14.82 seconds, then furnished a 48-second anchor as Northern roared to victory in the 4x400 relay in 3:19.41.
"I really enjoy running here in Sioux City,'' said Hamik, who will compete in the 400 hurdles, 4x400 relay, shuttle hurdle relay and possibly the high sticks next weekend at the Drake Relays. "Drake is a fast track, too, so we're all looking forward to coming back to Iowa.''
The lean and lanky Bertelsen, meanwhile, blossomed as never before for his NCAA Division III Iowa Conference school.
"The conditions were about perfect both Friday night and today,'' said Bertelsen after winning the long jump, finishing second in the 100, running on two winning relay quartets and then finishing a demanding day with a :49.8 leg on a 4x400 crew that finished sixth.
"I was pretty exhausted with the relay to go, but I gave it my best shot,'' said Bertelsen, who never finished better than seventh (2A 200 meters) in an Iowa state track meet event.
Bertelsen's long jump of 23-4.25 was a personal best and met the Division III national outdoor qualifying standard. In the 100, Wayne State's Tim Pilakowski leaned at the finish for a :11.07 victory with the Bertelsen second in :11.11.
In the Friday prelims, Bertelsen zipped to a personal best of :10.92 in leading the qualifying.
He teamed with Chris Rowedder, Devin Stewart and Brad Hughes to win the 4x100 in 42.27 seconds. In the 4x200, Justin Bauer replaced Stewart on a 1:28.22 gold medal run.
Morningside ended a long Relays victory drought, treating the Mustang faithful in the stands to a sprint medley triumph.
The foursome of Eric Roggatz, Anthony Rezac, Billy Mallett and Jacob Trettin stepped home first in 3:31.30. After Roggatz and Rezac covered 200-meter legs, Mallett ran a :48.9 400 and Trettin anchored in 1:56.8.
"In my four years as head coach this is the first relay we've won in this meet so we're pretty pumped and excited,'' said Morningside Coach Dave Nash. "Winning a relay here isn't exactly the easiest thing to do.''
The men's pole vault title went to South Dakota State's Tyler Schiferl with a best of 15 feet, 6 inches. SDSU, a former member of the North Central Conference, is in its last year of NCAA Division II track and field and will move to Division I in the sport next year.
Northwestern's Nick Fynaardt was the discus winner (157-7) and former USD athlete Mark Liebel won the javelin (205-9).
Dakota State's Anthony Drealean took the 1,500, while Wayne State's Matt Schneider won the steeplechase and Chris Heezen of Dakota State added the 5,000-meter gold to the 10,000 he won Friday.
Wayne State's Ben Jansen, the open 400 and 800 winner Friday, cruised a 1:57.9 anchor to haul the Wildcats home first in the 4x800 Saturday. Sioux City North graduate Ryan Williams, running the third leg, had the swiftest carry, contributing a 1:56.9 to a 7:51.69 victory.
And, after an ironman two-day effort by Eric Bertelsen, Buena Vista track and field fans soon may come to expect even greater performances from the sophomore from Polk City (North Polk High School).
Northern State's Hamik, named the outstanding men's college performer in the 2006 Sioux City Relays, was equally dazzling this time around the swift all-weather oval at Olsen Stadium.
The junior out of Aberdeen Roncalli High School broke his own meet record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles Friday night (:52.42), then added the 110-meter high sticks title and a swift anchor carry on a winning 4x400 relay as the 43rd running of the Relays came to a close Saturday.
Hamik won the high hurdles for the second straight year, this time in 14.82 seconds, then furnished a 48-second anchor as Northern roared to victory in the 4x400 relay in 3:19.41.
"I really enjoy running here in Sioux City,'' said Hamik, who will compete in the 400 hurdles, 4x400 relay, shuttle hurdle relay and possibly the high sticks next weekend at the Drake Relays. "Drake is a fast track, too, so we're all looking forward to coming back to Iowa.''
The lean and lanky Bertelsen, meanwhile, blossomed as never before for his NCAA Division III Iowa Conference school.
"The conditions were about perfect both Friday night and today,'' said Bertelsen after winning the long jump, finishing second in the 100, running on two winning relay quartets and then finishing a demanding day with a :49.8 leg on a 4x400 crew that finished sixth.
"I was pretty exhausted with the relay to go, but I gave it my best shot,'' said Bertelsen, who never finished better than seventh (2A 200 meters) in an Iowa state track meet event.
Bertelsen's long jump of 23-4.25 was a personal best and met the Division III national outdoor qualifying standard. In the 100, Wayne State's Tim Pilakowski leaned at the finish for a :11.07 victory with the Bertelsen second in :11.11.
In the Friday prelims, Bertelsen zipped to a personal best of :10.92 in leading the qualifying.
He teamed with Chris Rowedder, Devin Stewart and Brad Hughes to win the 4x100 in 42.27 seconds. In the 4x200, Justin Bauer replaced Stewart on a 1:28.22 gold medal run.
Morningside ended a long Relays victory drought, treating the Mustang faithful in the stands to a sprint medley triumph.
The foursome of Eric Roggatz, Anthony Rezac, Billy Mallett and Jacob Trettin stepped home first in 3:31.30. After Roggatz and Rezac covered 200-meter legs, Mallett ran a :48.9 400 and Trettin anchored in 1:56.8.
"In my four years as head coach this is the first relay we've won in this meet so we're pretty pumped and excited,'' said Morningside Coach Dave Nash. "Winning a relay here isn't exactly the easiest thing to do.''
The men's pole vault title went to South Dakota State's Tyler Schiferl with a best of 15 feet, 6 inches. SDSU, a former member of the North Central Conference, is in its last year of NCAA Division II track and field and will move to Division I in the sport next year.
Northwestern's Nick Fynaardt was the discus winner (157-7) and former USD athlete Mark Liebel won the javelin (205-9).
Dakota State's Anthony Drealean took the 1,500, while Wayne State's Matt Schneider won the steeplechase and Chris Heezen of Dakota State added the 5,000-meter gold to the 10,000 he won Friday.
Wayne State's Ben Jansen, the open 400 and 800 winner Friday, cruised a 1:57.9 anchor to haul the Wildcats home first in the 4x800 Saturday. Sioux City North graduate Ryan Williams, running the third leg, had the swiftest carry, contributing a 1:56.9 to a 7:51.69 victory.
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