Baudler, Myers medal at state

Area athletes complete season

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DES MOINES – After a tough result in the 3,200, Nodaway Valley’s Josh Baudler wasn’t messing around in the 1,600.

Baudler admitted he didn’t feel the greatest coming into the race, but still managed a third-place medal when all was said and done.

“I was hoping to lead it for the first couple of laps or be closer and then just stay on their tail in the third lap and just try to kick it in the fourth lap, but I let them get too far away too fast,” said Baudler.

The Nodaway Valley junior said his start didn’t leave him in the best positioning, but down the races’ final stretch, Baudler kicked and was able to catch a couple runners to take third.

“It was very redeeming and it felt very good,” said Baudler of the final stretch.

McNeill competes in first state meet

For East Union’s Molly McNeill, the sight of the Blue Oval was a first for the junior runner.

With it being her first time at the state meet, battling the nerves before the race were a big part of the mental approach pre-race.

“Lots of nerves. I’ve been on the verge of crying all day,” said McNeill. “My coaches have been staying by my side and giving me pretty much anything I need trying to make sure I don’t freak out.”

McNeill didn’t show any signs of nerves once the race was underway, taking 17th in 1:11.62 in sunnier conditions than she was expecting.

With rain and wind in the forecast, being able to run in sun was an unexpected perk for McNeill.

“I was expecting it to be pouring,” said McNeill. “I’m so grateful that it stopped and that the sun came out.”

Seeing some of the best runners in the state brought out the best in McNeill, who admitted she prefers to have to chase competitors down.

“It’s different when you’re running against competition that is some of the best in state instead of who are just at meets,” McNeill said. “It was really great competition. ... I like to have somebody to push me. Otherwise, I don’t feel like I push myself as much.”

Myers medals in the discus

Southwest Valley’s Tallen Myers took advantage of his final throw in the first flight to toss a season best and personal record mark of 141 feet, 10 inches in the discus, placing him in second in his flight.

The throw was also enough to get him into the final flight.

The mark proved to be enough to earn him a seventh place medal in his first Co-ed State Track and Field Meet appearance ever in his sophomore year.

Held powers through high jump

Murray’s Reece Held went up against some steep competition Friday afternoon in the Class 1A high jump where he finished in 15th overall.

As a junior high jumper, Held qualified for the event with a leap of 5 feet, 10 inches, but bested that on the big stage.

With the bar opening at 5-7, Held had no issues, clearing the opening mark on his first attempt.

At 5-9, Held was up and over the bar in his second leap before moving on to 5-11.

The Mustang high jumper had set a season best jump of 6-0 earlier in the year and on his final attempt at 5-11 he was able to get over the bar.

Going for his new personal record at 6-1 was where Held’s day came to an end as he knocked the bar off the standard in all three attempts.

Mount Ayr girls take to the field

Gracie Mobley and MacKenzie Shields were the lone two representative at the state meet for the Raiderettes’ track and field team, both taking part in field events.

Mobley threw her way to 19th in the Class 2A discus while Shields was 10th in the Class 2A high jump.

The weather was much less forgiving for Mobley, who was forced to throw in the rain and out of a wet circle Friday morning.

After being delayed for an hour, Mobley came out and scratched in her first throw.

Her second throw got her on the board with a mark of 101-10, but that went on to be the only distance she registered after scratching in her third throw of the opening flight as well.

Shields, in her final season as a Raiderette, looked to come back to the state high jump after several appearances and finisher higher than she had in the past.

With a 10th place finish Friday afternoon, Shields found her day coming to a close on the height of 5-2, a mark she had yet to clear this season.

After having no problems on the opening heights of 4-8 and 4-10, Shields needed a second attempt to get over 5-0 before missing on her three chances at 5-2.

Results

Boys Class 1A 1,600 meter run – 1. Joe Anderson, George-Little Rock, 4:34.81; 2. Brady Millikin, Pekin, 4:35.71; 3. Joshua Baudler, NV, 4:37.02.; 4. Will Roder, Gehlen Catholic, 4:37.32; 5. Caleb Silver, BCLUW, 4:38.00.

Girls Class 1A 400 meter hurdles – 1. Ciera Deitchler, Central Elkader, 1:04.96; 2. Summer Barthelman, Sigourney, 1:05.11; 3. Holly Hoepner, AHSTW, 4. Danika Demers, St. Mary’s, 1:06.07; 5. Callie Yeakel, Central Lyon, 1:06.52; 17. Molly McNeill, East Union, 1:11.62.

Boys Class 1A discus – 1. Layne Pryor, Woodbine, 155-3; 2. Tre Melby, Logan-Magnolia, 154-10; 3. Payton Schauf, Sigourney, 150-11; 4. Grant Stracke, IKM-Manning, 149-4; 5. Connor Alley, Fremont-Mills, 148-5; 6. Matt Haken, George-Little Rock, 144-7; 7. Tallen Myers, SWV, 141-10.

Boys Class 1A high jump – 1. Elliott Hagebock, North Union, 6-6; 2. Keegan Simons, Ar-We-Va, 6-5; 3. Cauy Spidle, Central Decatur, 6-5; 4. Matt Riedemann, South O’Brien, 6-3; 5. Gunner Meyer, Wapsie Valley, 6-3; 15. Reece Held, Murray, 5-11.

Girls Class 2A discus – 1. Jamie Kofron, Tipton, 140-5; 2. Brylie Zeisneiss, South Hardin, 130-6; 3. Jenna Pagel, Sumner-Fredericksburg, 127-0; 4. Lydia Knapp, Panorama, 124-0; 5. Shayla Oster, Bellevue, 121-7; 19. Gracie Mobley, Mount Ayr, 101-10.

Girls Class 2A high jump – 1. Kiersten Fisher, Southeast Valley, 5-4; 2. Jaedynn Evans, Iowa City Regina, 5-4; 3. Rachel Patton, Roland-Story, 5-4; 4. Gabrielle Guilford, Monticelo, 5-4; 5. Jacie Vander Waal, Sioux Center, 5-4; 10. MacKenzie Shields, Mount Ayr, 5-0.