Metro Sports Report

Prairie girls nip Lions for title

Cedar Rapids Prairie won the 31st Annual Washington Warriors girls track meet by the slimmest of margins Tuesday night at Kingston Stadium.

The Hawks nipped the Linn-Mar Lions, 146 to 145.5, for top honors in the seven-team field.

Hailee Montgomery won the 100 hurdles and ran the anchor leg on the triumphant shuttle hurdle relay for Prairie. Kenzie Soeken took the high jump, and Rachel Griffin captured the discus for the Hawks.

Prairie also won the 4x100 relay with Paige Pritts, Soeken, Alexa Martin and Madison Dellamuth.

Stephanie Jenks won the 800 (2:17.04) and 1500 (4:40.51) for Linn-Mar. The Lions also claimed the 4x200 relay, the 4x400 relay, the sprint medley and the distance medley.

Evans puts on show for Linn-Mar fans

Linn-Mar High School distance star Josh Evans wanted to put on a special show at the Clark Weaver Lion Relays Tuesday on Senior Recognition Night.

He succeeded admirably.

Evans sped to victory in the 1600 meter run in 4 minutes, 16.95 seconds and lifted the Lions to victory in the 4x800 relay with a sizzling anchor leg.

Evans already owned the best time in the state in the 1600 this spring at 4:22.06, and he lowered that mark by more than five seconds at the Linn-Mar track.

Evans can win just about any race he runs —  the 800, 1600 or 3200 —  but he wanted to treat the home crowd to a special showing in the 1600.

"I kind of talked to my coach earlier about this," he said. "The 1600 is kind of my thing. It's my favorite event.

"To me, it just seems like the nicest mix of speed and endurance. It's simple to run, but not simple. I like it. It's a nice mix of mental and physical strength."

Kernels drop opener of road trip

MIDLAND, Mich. —  The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell, 8-4, at Great Lakes on Tuesday night in the first game of a six-game road trip before 2,826 fans at Dow Diamond in Midland, Mich.

The Loons scored three runs in both the second and sixth innings. Jeremias Pineda and Bryan Haar homered for the Kernels (2-3) in the loss.

The Loons (4-1) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead by plating three runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning. Justin Chigbogu blasted a two-run home run in the second inning, putting the Loons up by a pair.

Kohawks split with No.25 Buena Vista

Cal Kragenbrink hit a home run and Jack Hoffmann pitched five strong innings as Coe College trimmed No.25 Buena Vista, 4-2, in the first game of an Iowa Conference doubleheader at Daniels Park in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday.

Buena Vista won the second game, 6-5.

Michael Goerdt went 2-for-3 and Thomas Gandolfi drove in two runs for the Kohawks (9-12, 6-8) in the first game. Hoffmann allowed only three hits and two runs during his stint on the mound. Jeremy Santiago got the final out for the save.

AJ Reuter and Goerdt went 2-for-4 in the second game for Coe.

Buena Vista is 19-5 overall and 8-4 in the league.