Marion relay is 'golden'

DES MOINES -- It took a second effort to complete the final handoff.

But when Cale Cannoy and Devin LeBeau made the final exchange, the Marion Indians were on the way.

"Devin got to the final turn, and I knew we were golden," LeBeau said.

Derek Williams, Isaac Smith, Cannoy and LeBeau ran the 800-meter relay in 1:29.59, capturing the Class 3A boys' title at the state track meet Friday at Drake Stadium.

The splits were balanced as could be -- 22.2 for Williams, 22.3 for Smith, 22.5 for Cannoy, 22.1 for LeBeau.

Cannoy and LeBeau had an anxious moment. LeBeau took off a split-second early, making for a tricky handoff.

"I couldn't get it in his hand the first time. I had to hand it off the second time," Cannoy said.

LeBeau said, "It wasn't the best handoff in the world, but we got it done."

Kevin Martinson of Spirit Lake Park pulled alongside LeBeau for a moment at the head of the straightaway, then LeBeau pulled away.

"This was the last time running this event with these guys, and I gave it my all," LeBeau said. "At the end of the curve, I knew I had 'em."

Decorah owns control of the 3A boys' team race heading into the final day. The Vikings have 47 points. Marion and Spirit Lake Park are tied for second with 26.

The final eight events are Saturday.

Connor Mebus of Solon obliterated his previous best in the shot put by more than 3 feet and won with a heave of 57-11 1/2.

"I was feeding on adrenalin," Mebus said. "In practice, I was creating problems because I put my head up too fast to watch where it landed. Today, I didn't see it land.

"When they announced (the distance), I was shocked. Just shocked."

Mebus with seeded sixth heading into Friday.

"I was just thinking, 'Let's go for it,' " he said. 

Decorah was second to Centerville in the 1,600-meter medley relay. The Big Reds finished in 3:30.33; the Vikings in 3:30.94.

"The medley is such a tight race, and my teammates put me up in the lead," said Decorah anchor Kyle Kregel, who already as a first place and two seconds this weekend.

"(Centerville's Payton Busch) just had a little better kick over the last 200."

Decorah also got a second place from Jake Humpal in the shot.

Dillon Villhauer of Clear Creek Amana came from the middle heat to earn third place in the 400-meter hurdles. He finished in 53.80 seconds; Raheem Black of Fort Madison won it in 53.21.

"I had a bad time at districts; it would have been nice to have been in the fast heat," Villhauer said. "I got out fast, coasted, then saved it all for the end."