HUXLEY — The Ballard men's track and field team turned in a dominant all-around performance Tuesday night, winning the Bomber Relays on their home track with 157 points. The Bombers separated themselves from the field behind South Tama County (103) and Collins-Maxwell (92) by combining event wins with consistent scoring across nearly every discipline.

Ballard's depth was evident from the start, with strong showings in the sprints, distance events, hurdles, relays, and field events fueling the team title.

In the sprint events, junior Jace Ortner led the way with a victory in the 200-meter dash (22.69), while teammate Liam Hurst added a third-place finish. Ballard also made an impact in the 100-meter dash, led by Parker Ihle's eighth-place finish in a tightly contested field.

The Bombers' middle-distance group delivered one of the night's highlights as junior Graden Hermann won the 800 meters in 1:59.42. In the longer races, senior Max Davidson captured the 1600-meter title (4:43.29) and added a runner-up finish in the 3200, while Austin Vance contributed additional points with a third-place finish in the 3200.

Ballard's hurdle crew proved to be a major strength. Seniors Stetson Kane and Curtis Hinzman went 1-2 in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking times of 14.84 and 15.27, respectively, to give the Bombers a significant early boost in the standings.

Relays were a key separator for Ballard throughout the meet. The Bombers claimed victories in the 4x100 (43.99), 4x400 (3:34.60), distance medley (3:42.29), and shuttle hurdle relay (1:03.17). They also added solid scoring finishes in the sprint medley and 4x800 relays, continuing to build their lead.

In the field events, Ballard added critical points to secure the team title. Carter Sparks led the way in the throws with a runner-up finish in the shot put (45-9.5) and added points in the discus. Tyson Pingel placed fifth in the discus (130-3), while Chase Ihle highlighted the jumps with a third-place finish in the long jump (18-10). Blakely Carlson contributed in the high jump, clearing 5-6 for third place.

The combination of event champions and steady scoring across the lineup allowed Ballard to pull away as the meet progressed, showcasing the team's balance and depth.

Ballard returns to competition quickly, traveling to South Hardin on Friday for a JV/Varsity meet beginning at 4:30 PM, continuing a busy stretch of the season as the Bombers build toward the championship phase.

PHOTO CREDIT: Davidson Photography