NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Freshman Izak Schroeder lands his jump in the long jump at the STC Early Bird. Schroeder finished in ninth place on the night with a best jump of 17’ 8.75”.

The STC boys track and field team finished in sixth place at their annual Coed Early Bird meet on Tuesday, April 8, at the STC high school track.

The Trojans were led by senior Cody Blocker, who took first place in the 400-meter dash with a winning time of 55.95. Blocker also finished sixth in the 200-meter dash (24.61) and seventh in the 100-meter dash (12.41). In addition, he ran the first leg of the second place 4×100 relay team which saw him run with sophomore Michael Henry, senior Tyrus Clegg, and junior Nick Upah. The quartet finished with a time of 45.90. Henry and Upah also turned in solid individual performances. Upah came in fourth place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.12. Henry finished seventh in the 200-meter dash — one spot behind Blocker — with a time of 24.98.

As the distances grew longer, STC continued to secure multiple top ten finishes during the night. Junior Barrett Jesina finished second in the 3200 (10:20.07) and fourth in the 1600 (4:59.34). Jesina’s younger brother, freshman Brady Jesina, also ran the 1600 and finished with a time of 5:12.26 to grab seventh place. In the 800-meter run, junior Carver Cecak finished in fifth place for the Trojans with a time of 2:15.18.

Junior Wes Hanus was a standout for STC in the hurdling events. Hanus took sixth place in the 110 hurdles (18.83) and seventh place in the 400 hurdles (1:06.41). Close behind him in the 400 hurdles was sophomore Josiah Houghton, who ran 1:06.46 to secure eighth place. Hanus and Houghton also teamed up together to run the Shuttle Hurdle Relay. They were joined by juniors Rayden Hill and Natayvious Sanders to finish in fifth place (1:15.87).

In the remaining relay events, STC’s highest finish was the Sprint Medley team of Sanders, Henry, Upah, and Houghton. The four took second place with a time of 1:43.46. The 4×200 team of Clegg, and freshman Izak Schroeder, Ethan Page, and Ryan Brant came in fourth place with a time of 1:42.41. Also gaining a top five finish for the Trojans was the 4×800 relay team. Senior Jerome Kapayou, junior Logan Richards, Brady Jesina, and Cecak made up the team that ran a time of 9:29.84 to earn fourth place. Brant, Cecak, Kapayou, and Houghton gained the final top five relay finish on the night when they ran the 4×400 in 4:00.07 to finish fifth.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Nick Upah looks to pass by the competition during his third leg of the Sprint Medley relay. Upah joined Natayvious Sanders, Michael Henry, and Josiah Houghton to finish second for the Trojans.

During the field events, STC had two athletes finish in the top ten of the long jump. Schroeder recorded a jump of 17 feet-8.75 inches to earn ninth place. He was immediately followed by Clegg, who finished in tenth place with a jump of 17 feet-7.75 inches. In the throwing events, the Trojans were led by junior Timm Chandonia. Chandonia took home fourth place in the discus throw with a toss of just over 140 feet. In the Shot Put, STC finished with three throwers in 16th-18th place, including junior Josh Strong (16th, 34-3.5), freshman Lakyr Peska (17th, 31.7.5), and sophomore Kyle Youngbear (18th, 31.50).

Up next for the Trojans is a trip to Huxley and Ballard High School for the annual Bomber Relays on Tuesday, April 22.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Sophomore Josiah Houghton runs the anchor leg of the Spring Medley relay. Houghton, Natayvious Sanders, Michael Henry, and Nick Upah finished in second place for the Trojans.