Local student-athletes were involved in four events Saturday at the Drake Relays.
The Iowa Falls-Alden boys shuttle hurdle relay team of Jaden Damiano, Andon Barrick, Carter Weaver and Ray Morgan Jr. placed seventh in the prelims. They ran a school-record time of 1:00.25, but finished outside the top four that qualify for the finals.
The Dike-New Hartford girls 4×100-meter relay team of Kailyn Meester, Shelby Ohrt, Chloe Paulsen and Macie Graves ran a season-best time of 51.54 to place 63rd in the prelims. Ohrt and Graves on how the group ran a PR.
“It turned out being beautiful and it was just a nice day to run,” Ohrt says. “We had been practicing our handoffs and it just all came together really nicely.”
“Our handoffs look really good today,” Graves says. “Our running went really well. I feel like we really bonded before we came out.”
It’s the fourth straight season the Wolverines have qualified in the event. Ohrt has been in the event for four years, and Graves, a junior, three years. Ohrt says it’s an accomplishment to be proud of.
“Every year, I think we put in just as much effort, want it just as bad, and every year is just as challenging as the next,” Ohrt says. “I mean, top 96, you really think about it, that’s not that many teams and it’s hard to get here. I’m thankful for making it four years and I’m just thankful that I got to do it with my team.”
The Hampton-Dumont-CAL boys 4×100-meter relay team of Gage Plagge, Tate Murray, Carson Hisler and Gavin Meader placed 50th in the prelims in 43.95.
Iowa Falls-Alden’s Damiano competed in his fourth event of the weekend and set a new PR by placing sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 53.27.
