Izer avoids trap, finishes second

DES MOINES — Ryan Izer nearly got trapped.

The Turkey Valley distance runner wouldn't let it happen, though — and once free, took off.

'I told myself I've got to get with whoever's going to finish this race hard and I've got to stay with them and bring up the kick again,' Izer said.

The high-performing junior avoided getting boxed in with a lap to go in Saturday's 1,600-meter final at the Class 1A state track and field meet, but couldn't chase down eventual winner Noah Larsen of Mount Ayr, who won in a time of 4:34.61.

Izer made up major ground in the final 100 meters, however, ending up just eight-tenths of a second behind the champion to earn silver.

'I never thought I'd get second in the mile there,' said Izer, who kicked to third in Thursday's 3,200 championship. 'But I'm happy with the way it went.'

Izer's finishing speed is his strength, he said.

Amping that up could lead to bigger things his senior season.

'I'm ready to get me a couple state titles,' he said.

No Gazette-area 1A boys athlete claimed gold Saturday, but Izer wasn't the only one to nearly get there.

North Tama's Omar Martinez notched third in the 800-meter run, clocking 2:00.37.

And Belle Plaine's Justin Jacobi expressed pride in a third-place finish (15.46).

'It's just great to be here again and good to have placed,' said Jacobi, who fell one-hundredth of a second from a runner-up result.

He did, however, ensure himself of another appearance on the school's wall honoring state place winners.

'It's nice to get on there and I have another year of (track), so it will be great to come back,' Jacobi said.

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