Panthers bring home medals, personal records from State
Preston Ries competes in the shot put at the State Class 2A Boys Track and Field Meet Thursday in Des Moines. Ries finished fourth in the event. (Photo by Pete Temple)
Zach Yates throws the discus Friday at State.

Medals and personal records were common for the Monticello High School boys track and field team at the State Class 2A Track and Field Meet May 16-18 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
The Panthers picked up three state medals – two of those by senior Preston Ries – and scored 11 total points to finish in 23rd place.
Ries was fourth in the shot put with a PR throw of 55-foot-5, and took fifth in the discus at 16-9. Zach Yates also competed in both throwing events, earning a seventh-place medal in the discus and taking 17th place in the shot put.
“We scored points with two people in the discus, and we were the only school to do that,” Panther head coach Greg Williams said. “(Class) 2A is just so competitive in many events. What used to place higher, doesn’t place so high (anymore).
“But it was a good way for them to end their careers.”
Jordan Williams, who coached the throwers this season, added: “They were a little disappointed, but they both competed well and I was happy with how they performed.”
Ty Tallman set a PR by two seconds in the 800-meter run on Saturday, finishing 14th in 1:59.86. Tallman said his goal was to break the 2:00 mark.
“I knew when I saw the clock I had a chance to get under two, so I just pushed everything I had, and I got it,” Tallman said.
“Ty has done a great job of staying healthy and trusting the workouts,” assistant coach Donnie Kremer said. “He has made huge strides over the past two yars and has become a very solid 800 runner.”
Sophomore Aedan Althoff competed in the 3,200 on Thursday, and ran a PR of 10:17.80. He placed 17th, after coming into the meet seeded 23rd.
“It was a great experience for Aedan,” Greg Williams said. “His goal was to run a PR, and he ran the pace he needed to run.”
Kremer agreed: “Aedan did a fantastic job of running his race and not trying to do too much, like a lot of people will try.”
Overall, head coach Williams said, “It was a nice way to end the season.”
May 16-18
State Class 2A
Track and Field Meet
(at Drake Stadium,
Des Moines)
MONTICELLO RESULTS
3,200: 17, Aedan Althoff, 10:17.80.
Shot put: 4, Preston Ries, 55-5; 17, Zach Yates 45-10.75.
Discus: 5, Preston Ries, 160-9; 7, Zach Yates, 156-3.
800: 14, Ty Tallman, 1:59.86.