Creston throwers are first Panther boys to qualify for Drake Relays in a decade

The annual Drake Relays have already begun, but for high school fans, the real action begins Thursday.

Area athletes from Creston, Lenox and Mount Ayr punched their ticket to the exclusive event — one that forgoes classes and simply focuses on the best athletes in the state.

Creston senior Brayden Schoon and sophomore Tom Mikkelsen each qualified in a throwing event. This is the first time in a decade the Panthers will have boys events competing.

Jay Wolfe and Bryce Briley both competed in the 800-meter run in 2015, placing third and 15th, respectively.

Schoon will compete in the first discus flight at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

He surpassed 160-feet for the first time at the Panther Invitational April 14 where he threw 160-01. Just three days later at the Neil Goos Invitational in Osceola, he threw an all-time best 160-07. The throw is tied for 19th best in the state, fifth best in Class 3A and number one in the Hawkeye 10.

Schoon has made major strides from a year ago. Coming into this season, his best mark was 143-02.5. He’s now nearly 20 feet past that distance.

Mikkelsen is back in peak form after a fantastic freshman season that culminated in a Hawkeye 10 shot put championship, a gold medal at the state qualifying meet and an 11th place finish at state.

His personal best mark last season came at the state qualifying meet when he surpassed his previous best by nearly 2-feet, throwing 54-04.5.

At Chariton April 15, Mikkelsen set a season-best throw of 54-03.5. On Thursday at the Neil Goos Invitational, he broke a 40-year school record with a mark of 55-09.25. The previous record was 54-11, set by Mike Mullin in 1985.

Mikkelsen’s throw is eighth best in the state, fifth best in Class 3A and leads the Hawkeye 10 this season.

He will compete at 3 p.m. Thursday in the second flight.

Area athletes

Senior Gabe Funk of Lenox will be back at the blue oval Friday and Saturday, competing in the 400m and 400m hurdles.

The boys 400m dash kicks off at 5:46 p.m. Friday where Funk will be in the first of two heats.

His best time this season of 49.59 is 11th best in the state, the number two time in Class 1A and leads the Pride of Iowa. It’s also a Lenox school record, breaking his own previous best.

The 400m hurdles are at 1:59 p.m. Saturday where he will compete in the second of three heats.

Funk comes off a second-place finish at state last season, falling to POI rival Ryce Reynolds.

His season best of 54.26 is eight best in the state and the fastest time in Class 1A.

Mount Ayr junior Aubree Shields is coming off two consecutive Class 1A silver medals in the high jump, clearing 5-04 as a freshman and 5-05 as a sophomore.

She’s once again jumped 5-05 this season, the current Mount Ayr school record. This puts her in a four-way tie for eighth in the state, third in Class 1A and leads the POI.

Shields will compete Friday at 10:30 a.m where she is set to jump 21st out of 30.

Collegiate

Southwestern Community College is also sending an event to the relays.

The 1600m sprint medley relay will run at 6:35 p.m. where they are the 22nd seed.

The team is comprised of Zach Thornburg (200m), Brandon Briley (200m), Cameron Swapsy (400m) and Dillon Starlin (800m). Briley and Starlin are both 2024 Creston High School graduates.

The relays can be streamed for free. For those attending, tickets can be purchased online or bought at the gate.

The ticket office will be at the southwest corner of Drake Stadium facing Forest Avenue. It will be open every day during the relays starting Thursday afternoon through Saturday.