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VanDraska signs with Iowa
Nov. 17, 2015 11:47 am, Updated: Nov. 17, 2015 1:14 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS — Tysen VanDraska feels he can accomplish great things in college.
'I want to be a Big Ten champion. I want to make it to nationals,' the Cedar Rapids Prairie distance ace said Wednesday, after signing a national letter of intent with the University of Iowa men's track and field team.
'I've seen what they've done with guys like me who have similar PRs. They turn those guys into great runners. Hopefully, they can do the same with me.'
VanDraska chose Iowa over Northern Iowa and Iowa State. He expects to run 800s and 1,600s for the track team, and does not plan to run cross country.
'They've got great coaches at Iowa. They're a great team in a great conference,' he said.
He was the Class 4A runner-up at the state cross country meet less than three weeks ago. He also finished second at the state track and field meet in May as a junior in the 800- and 1,600-meter races.
Hockey season begins tonight for VanDraska, a member of the RoughRiders' high school team.
l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com
Cedar Rapids Prairie's Tysen VanDraska (from left) pushes hard to pass Cedar Falls' Sam Schillinger in the final stretch of the Class 4A boys' race at the state cross country meet Oct. 31 at Fort Dodge. VanDraska placed second with a time of 15:49.9. He has signed a national letter of intent to run track at the University of Iowa. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
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