Evans' finale one for the books

DES MOINES — For his final race, Josh Evans left strategy and splits behind.

'I just wanted to race as hard as I could,' he said.

The result was one for the record books.

Evans capped a brilliant weekend — and a remarkable career — by setting a state-meet record of 4:06.32 in the Class 4A boys' 1,600-meter run at the state track and field meet Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

An Iowa State recruit, Evans ran alone the final lap, the crowd standing and roaring as he circled the track for the final time.

'Usually, I'm so much in a race zone that I don't hear it,' Evans said. 'But today, it was deafening.'

Evans finished his track career with six state titles, four this year. He won the 800 earlier Saturday in 1:50.98, missing that state mark by a hundredth of a second.

Last year's champion, Linn-Mar settled for runner-up status this season.

Waukee claimed the title 80 points. The Lions tallied 68 while Cedar Rapids Kennedy was third with 51.5.

Iowa City West was fifth, Cedar Rapids Prairie eighth.

While Evans was warming up, he was approached by a couple meet officials.

'They told me it was my last time on this track, and to make the most of it,' said Evans, who ran the fastest 1,600/mile in Iowa since 1976. 'That's when it kind of hit me.'

In the 800, Evans pulled away from Sioux City East's Carter Lilly with 50 meters to go. His effort there ranks third all-time in Iowa, fourth this season nationally.

Kennedy was second twice Saturday, in the shuttle hurdle relay and the 400-meter relay.

A day after setting a state-meet record in the shuttle preliminaries, the Cougars ran behind Waukee, which set an all-time Iowa best of 55.78 seconds. Kennedy finished in 56.20.

'We ran well; they just ran a hell of a race,' said Kennedy's Derek Jacobus.

'We were good today, but here, you've got to run perfect.'

Kennedy also was second to Waukee in the 400 relay. Linn-Mar was third.

Daniel Gardarsson of Iowa City West was second to Evans in the 1,600.

Bryson Runge of Iowa City High was third in the 100 and 200.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@sourcemedia.net