Solon Sophomore Kabela Builds Confidence With Win at Home Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – Running at a home meet always gives Brick Kabela a little more energy and an extra boost of adrenaline.
On Monday the standout Solon sophomore picked up two more things at the annual Solon Invitational.
Kabela won the individual title on his home course on Monday and in the process earned a big confidence boost going forward with Solon set to host the WAMAC Conference meet and Class 3A state qualifier next month.
“Without a doubt this is a big confidence boost,” Kabela said. “Seeing me run right where I feel like I should be around is awesome and especially knowing it’s on my home course and I am going to be able to do that two more times this season is a huge confidence booster.”
Kabela won the individual title by more than 14 seconds of teammate Gabe Hinman, finishing in a time of 17:04.
It was the first individual title for Kabela at a home meet after he finished ninth at the event last season as a freshman.
“I love running here, I love seeing all the people,” Kabela said. “It’s great to see everyone that comes out to support us. Every single cheer makes me go a little faster so it was awesome running here. I can’t wait to run here again for conference and districts.”
Hinman was second in 17:18.1 helping Class 3A No. 11 Solon to a runner-up team finish with 49 points.
Class 2A second-ranked Tipton had four runners in the top eight on its way to the team title with 40 points while 3A No. 10 Mount Vernon/Lisbon was third with 70 and 2A fourth-ranked Williamsburg was fourth with 93.
Kabela entered the race ranked 14th individually in Class 3A and was impressive, pulling away from the rest of the pack over the final mile and a half.
The sophomore was a little more than 10 seconds off his personal best pace while winning in 17:04.
“I just ran my race and let my legs do whatever they wanted to and it paid off,” Kabela said. “I felt pretty good honestly.”
Ty Becicka finished 11th for Solon in 18:11.1 while Michael Yeomans was 13th in 18:19.4.
Kabela and the Spartans will attempt to use its home course advantage when it hosts the WAMAC Conference meet on October 14 and the 3A state qualifier on October 20.
“I definitely think we have an advantage here,” Kabela said. “Running the course over and over makes me super familiar with it and lets me know when I need to put surges in or where I can pass kids or where other kids might have weaknesses.”
Solon Invitational
At Solon Nature and Recreation Area
Teams Scores – 1. Tipton 40; 2. Solon 49; 3. Mount Vernon/Lisbon 70; 4. Williamsburg 93; 5. Clinton 135; 6. Davenport North 162; 7. Liberty High JV 183; 8. Cedar Rapids Xavier 203; 9. Central DeWitt 218; 10. West Liberty 325
Individual leaders – 1. Brick Kabela (SOL) 17:04; 2. Gabe Hinman (SOL) 17:18.1; 3. Clay Bohlmann (TIP) 17:27.9; 4. Ty Nichols (TIP) 17:30.1; 5. Troy Butler (TIP) 17:37.7; 6. Randall Kinner (CRX) 17:47.6; 7. Quincy Happel (MV/L) 17:54.3; 8. Cody Bohlmann (TIP) 17:56.6; 9. Harrison Garber (WIL) 18:01.9; 10. Sam Rich (WIL) 18:08.3; 11. Ty Becicka (SOL) 18:11.1; 12. Eli Dickson (MV/L) 18:12.4; 13. Michael Yeomans (SOL) 18:19.4; 14. Carson Sansenbach (MV/L) 18:24.1; 15. Aiden Bowser (DN) 18:25.4
Solon (49) – 1. Brick Kabela 17:04; 2. Gabe Hinman 17:18.1; 11. Ty Becicka 18:11.1; 13. Michael Yeomans 18:19.4; 22. Nolan Pauley 18:43.9; 30. Ethan McLaughlin 19:03.6; 34. Grant Bumsted 19:14.5
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