It’s as close to closure as many track and field athletes will get, as the “Track and Field Guy” Mike Jay and his organization organized a carnival highlighting some of the best runners, jumpers, and hurdlers in the midwest Wednesday in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Pella Christian seniors Blake Veenstra, Bryant Agre, and Erica Nikkel, and junior Allison Van Gorp each competed unofficially for the last time as high school athletes, as the event was not sanctioned by the Iowa High School Athletic Association or Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union, but featured more than 200 competitors from around the Midwest.

Blake Veenstra was the BGM carnival’s discus champion with a throw of 164-6, defeating the 2019 6th place in 4A thrower Jacob Baier of Ankeny in the process. Veenstra also had the 4th best shot put throw at the event, at 51 feet 4 ¼ inches, in a field that included Mason Lobeck of Madrid, the 10th place finisher at the 2019 2A field competition, as well as the 6th place winner in Class 4A Blake Wiederhold from Sioux City, East, and Baier, a 4A qualifier last season.

Erica Nikkel of Pella Christian raced against some of the fastest in Iowa and placed well, finishing in 4th in the 100 meters with a time of 13.05, in an exhibition that featured 2019 3A runner-up Libby Wedewer of Wahlert and Ames freshman Cameron Moon, who had the 2nd fastest 200 meter dash in the limited indoor season prior to the cancellation of outdoor track and field. Nikkel also placed 13th in the open 200.

Allison Van Gorp of Pella Christian placed 4th in the girls discus with a throw of 101-5, in an event that had 2019 3A qualifier Alyssa Streigel of Mt. Pleasant. Bryant Agre of the Eagles clocked in at 52.33 seconds in the 400 meters, good for 4th. He was also 12th in the open 200 race.

Nigel Sperfslage of PCM placed 4th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 56.03. Nigel posted the 4th fastest time in the event in 2019, qualified for state, and was the 2nd lowest time scheduled to return this year in Class 2A from the overall leaderboard.

Carter Erickson of Indianola placed 3rd in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.20, while Grace Gioffredi of the Indians qualified for the 100 meter finals with a time of 13.16. Erickson was also 6th in the 200 meter dash.