Monticello boys make it four straight 3,200 relay state titles

DES MOINES — The Monticello boys watched their girls' 3,200-relay squad run to a state record, and waited for their chance to complete the sweep.

It wasn't a state record, but the Monticello boys claimed their fourth-straight state title in the Class 2A 3,200 relay, clocking in at 7:51.24. The mark was less than one second off the state record the Panthers set last year.

Monticello has won seven of the last 11 boys 3,200-relay titles.

'It's just tradition and we just keeping it going,' said senior Matt Manternach, who ran a personal-best anchor of 1:52.2. 'As the seniors leave, they just encourage the younger guys so much. We just kind of step in their shoes as best we can and keep the tradition going as long as possible.'

Sophomore Aaron Loes joined his brother, Jordan, and twins Derek and Matt Manternach in capturing the title seven seconds ahead of second place.

Derek took the third leg in second and made up 30 yards of ground on his second lap before adding 30 more to his lead, giving Matt the chance to secure the win on the final leg.

'The big thing that's hard to do is to be patient,' Derek said. 'You don't want to catch him in the first 300 meters because then you're going to die the second time. It takes a lot of patience and trust in your training that will put you through that second lap and get you what you want.'

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West Branch's Cooper Koenig was second in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 5 inches. West Burlington/Notre Dame's Xavior Williams won with 23 feet, 8.25 inches.

Koenig was the Drakey Relays champion in the long jump, but said he wouldn't dwell too long on his second-place finish before turning his eyes toward the rest of the weekend.

'I'm going to let it fuel the fire for the rest,' Koenig said. 'I know I've got teammates looking at me for points and run in the relays. I'm going to come back from this. I'm going to let it eat at me for just a little bit, but then just move on.'

STATE TRACK & FIELD MEET: CLASS 2A BOYS

Teams (through five events) — 1. Applington-Parkersburg, 17; 2. Dike-New Hartford, 16; 3. KP-WC, 15; 3. Monticello, 15; 3. West Burlington/Notre Dame, 15; 6. Camanche, 10; 7. West Branch, 8; 7. Garner-Hay/ Vent, 8; 7. Iowa City Regina, 8; 10. Unity Christian, 7

Results (top 3, plus area)

Shot put — 1. Nick Phelps (KP-WC), 61-01.75; 2. Jared Brinkman (Iowa City Regina), 61-01.00; 3. Levi Duwa (Mid-Prairie), 57-09.50; 4. Zach Timm (Monticello), 56-06.75

Long jump — 1. Xavior Williams (West Burlington/Notre Dame), 23-08.25; 2. Cooper Koenig (West Branch), 23-05; 3. Miles Rupiper (Kuemper Cathloic), 22-00.50; 6. John Larkin (Cascade), 21-01.75

3,200 — 1. C.J. May (Applington-Parkersburg), 9:39.94; 2. Reece Smith (Garner-Hay/Vent), 9:46.32; 3. Andrew Stumbo (Ogden), 9:49.04; 4. Danny Halva (North Fayette Valley), 9:49.05

3,200 relay — 1. Monticello (J. Loes, A. Loes, D. Manternach, M. Manternach), 7:51.24; 2. Dike-New Hartford, 7:57.78; 3. Northeast, 8:02.98; 7. Anamosa, 8:17.12

400 — 1. Will Seeser (Camanche), 49.36; 2. John Crew (Dike-New Hartford), 49.75; 3. Brett Daley (Treynor) 50

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