Cyclone throwers Bieker, Andersen shine at Atlantic

 ATLANTIC (April 29) -- Impressive field-event throws from Caleb Bieker and Lauren Andersen proved to be the top Harlan Community track highlights Monday as the Cyclone boys placed third and the girls finished fifth in the Atlantic Trojan Co-Ed Relays.
 Bieker put together his best day of the season with second-place marks of 164 feet, five inches, in the discus and an even 51 feet in the shot put, approaching both of his personal bests from a year ago. Lewis Central’s Logan Jones won both events with throws of 176’-9” (discus) and 53’-3” (shot).
 Andersen, a sophomore, also had an explosive day in the discus ring with a new ‘PR’ of 126 feet - good for second place to LC’s Lauren Payne - that ranks second in school history.
 Buoyed by nine gold medals, Atlantic won the boys team title by a 139-126.5 margin over Glenwood, followed by HCHS with 109 and Lewis Central 88. Atlantic’s Tyler Moen joined Jones as an individual double-winner, sweeping the 100 and 200-meter sprints.
 The girls’ half of the meet ended in a tie for first as the host Trojans and Glenwood both scored 137.5 points. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln scored 112.5 for third place, Creston was fourth with 98 and HCHS had 88.5 for fifth.
 Led by Glenwood’s five gold medals, six girls teams won at least two events on the night, including the Cyclones. Abi Baldwin clocked a new ‘PR of 11:56.91 to win the 3,000 and the 4x200 relay team of Savanna Musich, Delaney Wegner, Grace Eckermann and Abby Alberti joined forces to run a season-best, first-place time of 1:50.74.
 The HCHS boys placed 23 times in 17 events despite competing without one of their main cogs in sophomore sprinter and long jumper Michael Erlemeier, who was ill. The Cyclones did not win any events, but took home three second-place medals, eight thirds and five fourths. In addition to Bieker’s runner-up efforts, Jon Owens placed second in the 400-meter hurdles.