Greene County hosted the Rams Relays coed track and field meet last night in Jefferson at Linduska Field in nearly perfect weather conditions. The athletes responded to the conditions and broke seven girls’ records, and two boys’ marks. One of the records broken dates back to 1982, while several more were from the 1990’s.

ADM won the girls’ team title with 146 points and Boone was second with 103. South Tama County had 99 with 81 for Carroll, 71 by the Rams, 43 for Perry, 37 from Kuemper Catholic, and nine points for East Sac County.

The Boone boys won with 132 points and Carroll was next at 110. Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center was third with 81, followed by Kuemper Catholic 76, East Sac County 61, Greene County 50, Saydel (Des Moines) 39, and 37 for Perry.

The highlights for the Perry boys were in the 400 meter races. The Blue Jays picked up a victory in the 4 x 400 meter relay in a season best time of 3:30.53, missing the meet record by just .33 second. The Blue Jays weren’t pushed as they won the race by nearly seven seconds. Shamon Ivory, Adan Medina, Reece Dunlap, and Alexis Garrido. Dunlap won the 400 dash in :52.07 with Medina second in :53.02.

The Perry girls had a win in the 3,000 meter run from Grace Stewart in 12:19.64. Sydney Vancil was second in the 800 meter run in 2:30.42.

Greene County won the girls’ high jump with 2016 Drake Relays champion and Class 3A State champion Megan Durbin clearing a season best 5′ 4″, which likely means a return trip to the Drake Relays. The Rams were second in the 200 meter dash with Durbin clocking :28.25, the 3,000 meter run with Haley Hall in 12:35.04, the 4 x 200 meter relay in 1:52.88 with Tieryn Tucker, Melanie Doran, Olivia Hansen, and Durbin, and Kenna Marquardt was second in the discus throw at 108′ 5″.

The boys from Greene County did not win an event. Colby Kafer was second in the long jump in a career best 19′ 6″, and the Rams had two relays place second. The 4 x 800 ran 9:34. 81 with Will Hansen, Trevor Lebeck, Brent Riley, and Garrett Tasler, and the sprint medley finished second in 1:39.74 with Kafer, Chase Stoline, Logan Lansman, and Nick Schoeder.

Kelly Simpson, the Rams’ girls head coach since 1996, is retiring as a Greene County teacher and coach at the end of the school year after a 33-year career. This was his last home meet, and the coach was honored during a brief ceremony, highlighted by the surprise attendance of all three of his children; Kate from Gilbert, Jacob from Omaha, and Kristen from Washington, D.C.