Becca McDermott shines for Cascade

MARION — Becca McDermott can run longer distances. Her medal haul from the state cross country meet is testament to that.

But that doesn't mean it's comfortable.

'Last year, I did the 3,000 a lot, and I really struggled with my breathing,' said the junior from Cascade High School. 'I use an inhaler for exercise-induced asthma, and I still wheeze a lot.'

Her races have been shorter this spring, and it looked like a winning plan at the Marion Early Bird girls' track and field meet Thursday evening at Thomas Park Field.

McDermott captured the 400-meter race by a whisker, then claimed the 800 in more comfortable fashion.

Team scores were not recorded Thursday, but Cascade was the best team in the field of 11 squads. The Cougars won seven on a brisk evening.

McDermott and North Cedar's Tessa Fields came down the stretch together in the 400 before McDermott prevailed in 1:02.86. Fields was clocked in 1:03.10.

'She definitely pushed me,' said McDermott, a three-time individual state runner-up in cross country (she led the Cougars to the team title last fall). 'We've been running a lot of 200s and 600s in practice, and I think that helped me at the end.'

In the 800, McDermott shot to the front immediately and won comfortably, in 2:30.06.

Cascade also got titles from Celine Rickels (100), Rachel Trumm (200), Lisa Tucker (100 hurdles) and its 800-meter and shuttle hurdle relays.

Marion's strengths came in the throws and the distance events.

Mahlia Brown was the shot put champion at 38 feet, 7 1/2 inches, and Haley Blazek took the discus at 118-4. Hallie Kephart won a close battle with Vinton-Shellsburg's Lily Horst in the 3,000, clocking at 11:03.71, and Maddie Bach ran away with the 1,500 in 4:55.28.

North Cedar's middle-distance strength was apparent in victories in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays, and Fields was the 400-meter hurdles champion.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD: MARION EARLY BIRD MEET

At Thomas Park Field

No team scores. Participating teams: Alburnett, Anamosa, Benton Community, Calamus-Wheatland, Cascade, Central City, Marion, North Cedar, North Linn, Springville, Vinton-Shellsburg.

Shot put — 1. Mahlia Brown (Mar), 38-7 1/2; 2. Leah Crock (NC), 37-10 1/2; 3. Bre Smith (Mar), 37-5; Discus — 1. Haley Blazek (Mar), 118-4; 2. Amanda Dedrick (VS), 116-4; 3. Elizabeth Davis (BC), 106-8; High jump — 1. Mandy Rawson (NL), 5-1; 2. Caitlyn Smith (Mar), 5-0; 3. Darby Hawtrey (NC), 4-10; Long jump — 1. Rylee Menster (Spr), 15-8 3/4; 2. Brittany Koppes (Casc), 15-8 1/2; 3. Amber Rohlena (BC), 15-4 1/4.

3,000 — 1. Hallie Kephart (Mar), 11:03.71; 2. Lily Horst (VS), 11:04.15; 3. Emma Duncan (Ana), 11:11.78; 3,200 relay — 1. North Cedar, 10:17.23; 2. Vinton-Shellsburg, 10:20.54; 3. Marion, 10:31.31; Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. Cascade, 1:09.78; 2. Benton Community, 1:10.90; 3. North Linn, 1:12.92; 100 — 1. Celine Rickels (Casc), 13.23; 2. Lauren Slouha (BC), 13.24; 3. Anne Ryan (Casc), 13.26; Distance medley relay — 1. Calamus-Wheatland, 4:40.39; 2. Benton Community, 4:50.40; 3. Springville, 4:51.45; 400 — 1. Becca McDermott (Casc), 1:02.86; 2. Tessa Fields (NC), 1:03.10; 3. Annika Schmidt (VS), 1:04.38; 800 relay — 1. Cascade, 1:50.05; 2. Benton Community, 1:50.50; 3. Marion, 1:51.56; 100 hurdles — 1. Lisa Tucker (Casc), 16.61; 2. Sydney Brase (Mar), 16.86; 3. Brittany Koppes (Casc), 17.31; 800 — 1. Becca McDermott (Casc), 2:30.06; 2. Bristi Gerber (VS), 2:33.83; 3. Marie Knepper (Casc), 2:34.35; 200 — 1. Rachel Trumm (Casc), 27.45; 2. Grace Proesch (NC), 27.60; 3. Celine Rickels (Casc), 27.97; 400 hurdles — 1. Tessa Fields (NC), 1:09.33; 2. Sydney Brase (Mar), 1:12.60; 3. Lisa Tucker (Casc), 1:15.49; Sprint medley relay — 1. Benton Community, 1:58.08; 2. North Linn, 1:59.40; 3. Marion, 1:59.88; 1,500 — 1. Maddie Bach (Mar), 4:55.28; 2. Andrea Ertz (Mar), 5:13.90; 3. Grace Horst (VS), 5:26.56; 400 relay — 1. Benton Community, 52.57; 2. Cascade, 53.19; 3. Marion, 53.94; 1,600 relay — 1. North Cedar, 4:13.30; 2. Cascade, 4:15.32; 3. North Linn, 4:26.08.

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