Sioux Central, Newell-Fonda Athletes Shine at SCC Early Bird Invitational

Lucos Wernimont set the tone for Sioux Central's outdoor season Monday, winning both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the South Central Calhoun Early Bird Invitational in Lake City. Wernimont crossed in 4:55.05 in the 1,600 and returned later to win the 3,200 in 10:40.96, a distance double that gives the Class 2A Rebels a clear front-runner heading into conference competition.

Sioux Central's depth showed well beyond the distance events. Jack Christian won the 800 meters in 2:04.24, then anchored the sprint medley relay alongside Spooner, Chase Heuton and Owen Mills. That quartet claimed first in 1:40.85. Heuton also placed fourth in the 200 meters in 24.87, and Noah Garcia took second in the 400 meters in 56.84, a mark that projects him into scoring territory at future dual and conference meets.

Mills was the most versatile Rebel on the afternoon, placing second in both hurdle events: 16.17 in the 110 meter high hurdles and 59.98 in the 400 meter hurdles. The high jump crown went to Colin Christians, who cleared 5 feet, 10 inches for the top mark in that event.

Newell-Fonda built its early-season case through relay depth. The Mustangs placed third in both the 4x100 (47.48) and 4x200 (1:46.14), then pushed to second in the 4x800 at 9:55.45. Jack Olsen complemented that relay effort with a third-place individual finish in the 1,600 at 5:12.68, while Austin Barber added a sixth-place 12:29.00 in the 3,200. The combined relay and distance results suggest Newell-Fonda could be a factor in team scoring at Class 1A qualifying meets later this spring.

St. Mary's contributed in the sprints. Nicolas Calvo ran 11.87 for fifth in the 100 meters and added a 25.31 for sixth in the 200, while Cael Phelps finished seventh in the 100 at 12.12. Dominac Mills represented the Blazers in the 800, finishing seventh at 2:25.98.

The invitational did not track team scores, keeping the focus on individual benchmarks rather than standings. With the Twin Lakes Conference schedule and Class 1A and 2A district qualifying meets still ahead, Monday's marks give coaches at each school a working baseline for event assignments and relay lineups through the rest of the outdoor season.