Washington's Griffin has picked up the pace

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Bigger, faster, stronger? William Griffin is all of that personified.

A junior at Cedar Rapids Washington, Griffin won two individual sprints and lent a hand in a victorious relay at the John Ask Relays on Friday night at Kingston Stadium.

"I've gained a lot of muscle. I've been working on my strength," Griffin said after claiming the 200-meter dash in 22.81 seconds.

Griffin outdueled teammate Alex Carr -- and everybody else -- in the 100, sprinting home in 11.11 seconds. He ran the third leg on the 800-meter relay (1:33.39), then led off the Warriors' second-place 400-meter relay.

He doesn't mind the less glamorous relay appointments.

"Anchoring? That's Alex's job," Griffin said.

The fifth-place Class 4A 100-meter finisher at the state meet last year, Griffin was a self-proclaimed 24-second 200-man in 2010. But he has enhanced his body and lowered his times.

"I'm at 195 pounds this year," he said. "I was at 185 last year, but I was fatter. I'm gained some muscle and I've worked on staying relaxed."

A rough second exchange was too much for the Warriors to overcome in the 400 relay, which was won by Bettendorf.

Iowa City West benefitted from the meet's "true team scoring" method to claim the team title with 284 points. Linn-Mar was second with 282 points, followed by Bettendorf (277) and Cedar Rapids Washington (262).

Had the meet been scored conventionally, Linn-Mar and Bettendorf would have tied for the title with 105 points, followed by Washington (90) and West (87).

The Trojans won two events: Keith Clay cleared 6 feet in the high jump and Daniel Gordarsson finished the 1,600 in 4:41.33.

Linn-Mar's hurdling corps is stacked, and it's more than just Kyle Dunn.

Brandon Ophoff captured the 110-meter hurdles in 14.72 seconds, then finished second to Nick Lucas in the 400-meter hurdles. Lucas was clocked in 56.34 seconds; Ophoff in 57.73.

The Lions won a tight shuttle hurdle relay in 1:00.57. Cedar Rapids Kennedy was second in 1:00.61; Washington was third in 1:00.74.

"(The hurdlers) work on a lot of drills that make muscle memory," Ophoff said. "Then you don't have to think. You just do it.

" I know it's a ways off, but my main goal is state. Last year I qualified but didn't do that well. This year I want to do well."

JOHN ASK RELAYS

At Kingston Stadium

Teams (true team scoring) -- 1. Iowa City West 284, 2. Linn-Mar 282, 3. Bettendorf 277, 4. C.R. Washington 262, 5. C.R. Jefferson 238, 6. C.R. Kennedy 214.5, 7. C.R. Prairie 195.5.

Shot put -- 1. Grant Anderson (Bett), 50-5; 2. J.P. Flynn (Bett), 46-10; 3. Derek Norland (ICW), 46-4 1/2; Discus -- 1. Sam Joens (CRP), 163-0; 2. Derek Norland (ICW), 155-0; 3. Jacob Hayes (Bett), 143-6; High jump -- 1. Keith Clay (ICW), 6-0; 2. Brandon Ophoff (LM), 5-10; 3. Jason Phelps (CRJ), 5-8; Long jump -- 1. Caleb Mere (CRK), 22-2 1/4; 2. Colton Sanchez (LM), 20-0; 3. Richard Bryant (ICW), 19-2 3/4.

3,200 -- 1. Matt Butler (Bett), 9:52.76; 2. Isaac Jensen (ICW), 10:10.76; 3. Thomas Singer (CRK), 10:14.87;

3,200 relay -- 1. C.R. Prairie, 8:22.84; 2. Linn-Mar, 8:27.17; 3. C.R. Jefferson, 8:33.21;

Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. Linn-Mar, 1:00.57; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 1:00.61; 3. C.R. Washington, 1:00.74;

100 -- 1. William Griffin (CRW), 11.11; 2. Tamrick Atwood (Bett), 11.22; 3. Tyler Youker (Bett), 11.28;

400 -- 1. Devon Clarke (Bett), 51.90; 2. Robert Hogg (CRW), 52.89; 3. Triston Beyer (CRP), 53.09;

800 relay -- 1. C.R. Washington, 1:33.39; C.R. Jefferson, 1:34.64; 3. Linn-Mar, 1:36.06;

110 hurdles -- 1. Brandon Ophoff (LM), 14.72; 2. Jake Losch (CRK), 15.43; 3. Drake Hickok (CRW), 15.58;

1,600 -- 1. Daniel Gordarsson (ICW), 4:41.33; 2. Josh Evans (LM), 4:43.36; 3. Robert Hogg (CRW), 4:45.38;

200 -- 1. William Griffin (CRW), 22.81; 2. Devin Clark (Bett), 23.11; 3. Armado Williams (ICW), 23.25;

400 hurdles -- 1. Nick Lucas (LM), 56.34; 2. Brandon Ophoff (LM), 57.73; 3. Drake Hickok (CRW), 58.96;

1,600 medley relay -- 1. Bettendorf, 3:39.69; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 3:45.91; 3. Iowa City West, 3:50.07;

800 -- 1. Timauntay Jones (CRJ), 2:02.64; 2. Robert Hogg (CRW), 2:03.34; 3. Jordan Burns (CRP), 2:04.39;

400 relay -- 1. Bettendorf, 44.17; 2. C.R. Washington, 44.57; 3. C.R. Jefferson, 44.86;

1,600 relay -- 1. Linn-Mar, 3:31.13; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 3:37.22; 3. C.R. Prairie, 3:38.77.