Emgarten shines bright at Central College Indoor event

Junior Cash Emgarten got his season started on a high note with a first place finish in the 400 meter dash with a time of 54.32.

Emgarten also finished in fifth place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.86 taking home a fifth place finish in the 60 meter run with a time of 7.28 seconds, just .15 behind the leader, Landry Haberichter from W. Burlington.

According to Head Coach Kevin Brown, Emgarten missed out competing in state last season, but is working hard to try to erase that memory.

“Cash showed up to the first week of practice ready to go mentally and physically,” Brown said. “He just missed going to state in a few events last year and he has used it as motivation to want to be better. He is a kid that has bought into the program and will continue to see great results.”

This was the Spartans first event of the season and with Exira-EHK being a smaller school, the stage seemed intimidating, but Brown was still pleased with how the team performed overall.

“This was our first indoor meet with this group, so I think the kids were nervous to see some of the bigger schools there,” he said. “Once the nerves settled we focused and competed well.”

In the 4x200 meter relay event, the Spartans took a ninth place finish with a time of 1:44.71, just 6.1 seconds behind Pella, who finished in first place. Emgarten, Derrek Kommes, Aidan Flathers and Jonas LaCanne competed for the Spartans in that event.

“The 4x200 is a work in progress at the moment,” Brown added. “The four that ran it will most likely get a few more chances to get some more reps in with better hand offs. It was also Cash's fifth time running since he had finals in the 60m, so I am eager to see what he can do with more rest.”

The next event the Spartans will participate in will be the Audubon Boys Early Bird event March 28, where 17 schools will be competing.

“Audubon's Early Bird is a great meet to start off the season,” Brown said. “It gives me the opportunity to put a meet line up together that is just a starting benchmark to see where we can go. Let's just hope there is some good weather so these kids can get on the track.”