The Ventura boys track team took third place at the Northeast Hamilton Invitational held on Thursday, May 1, in Jewell.  The Vikings scored 70 points.  The meet was won by NEH with 186 points, followed by CWL with 89.  Other teams participating were North Tama with 64 points, ICA/ACA with 60, W-CL-T had 39 points and CAL had 37.
    Tyler Betz started the meet off on a good foot for the Vikings as he picked up two first place and one second place finish in field events.  He picked up first in the shot put with a throw of 41’4.5” and got first in the high jump clearing 5’8”.  He placed second in the discus with a throw of 134’5”.
    Another highlight of the meet was the shuttle hurdle team taking first place and breaking the school record with a time of 1:03.96.  Members of the relay are Aaron Christians, Tyler Peterson, Damien Beard and Cody Kadolph.
    “We’re looking to Districts now,” said Coach Rod Huber.  “We are currently tied for third fastest in the shuttle hurdle relay and I think with a week of specializing with it we might be able to pull our time down to a 1:02 and make it to State.  Tyler Betz also has a chance in the discus if he can be consistent that day.”

NEH Meet
    •Shot put:  Tyler Betz, 1st, 41’5”; Dustin Dyre 4th, 35’1”
    •Discus:  Betz, 2nd, 134’5”
    •High Jump:  Betz, 1st, 5’8”
    •Long Jump:  Cody Kadolph, 5th, 16’9.25”
    •Shuttle Hurdle Relay:  Aaron Christians, Tyler Peterson, Damien Beard, Kadolph, 1st, 1:03.96
    •4x200 M Relay:  Brandon Harthan, Beard, Scott Watson, Cody Christy, 6th, 1:49.86
    •110 High Hurdles:  Christians, 3rd, 17.60
    •200 M Dash, Kadolph: 5th, 24.80
    •400 M Hurdles: Christians, 2nd, 1:02.89
    •800 M Run:  Mark Schaller, 6th, 2:32.31
    •4x100 M Relay:  Watson, Harthan, Christy, Peterson, 5th, 52.13
    •4x400 M Relay:  Christians, Peterson, Kadolph, Schaller, 4th, 3:59.53