Lynx take first step toward a repeat

DES MOINES — North-Linn's first step toward a potential state-championship repeat was a no-stresser, and a no-doubter.

Nicole Miller needed no stirring comeback in earning her eighth career state championship, and the Lynx ran away from the field in the Class 1A girls' 3,200-meter relay Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

Taylor Burke, Maddie Boer, Sydney Mertens and Miller ran in a school-record 9:36.56, more than 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Edgewood-Colesburg.

'These three did an awesome job,' Miller said, pointing at her teammates. 'I was able to kind of run for fun.'

Burke led off with a 2:30 split, then Boer put the Lynx into the lead with a 2:23 leg. Mertens, a freshman, extended the margin with a 2:25 effort, and Miller closed in 2:18.

'It was definitely nice to be comfortable,' Burke said.

'We needed this one,' said Boer, who has six titles of her own. 'We came in with the mindset that we needed it.'

Pekin leads the 1A girls' team race with 19 points through five events. Hudson is second with 18. The defending-champion Lynx are tied for fourth place with 10.

Burke, Boer and Miller are state-meet veterans. Mertens is the rookie.

'They just told me it was a fast track, and to do my thing,' Mertens said.

Hanna Hess, Kyann Braden, Morgan Fannon and Kari Fitzpatrick ran for Ed-Co. The Vikings finished in 9:56.89.

BGM's Jolissa Kriegel was second in the 400 behind Hudson's Maddie Bell, who ran in 57.75 seconds. Kriegel was clocked in 58.85.

Spingville's Rylee Menster was third in the long jump.

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