Iowa state track 4A boys’ results: Prairie upsets Kennedy, beats everybody in shuttle hurdle

DES MOINES — The Prairie Hawks had a secret. And they relished the opportunity to share it.

“We knew we were going to put up a fast time,” Ceondae Adams said. “I had faith that everybody could run their best.”

And ...

“We knew we were fast enough to beat (Cedar Rapids Kennedy).”

By Saturday afternoon, the secret was out.

Running behind Kennedy all season, Cedar Rapids Prairie switched gears in the shuttle hurdle relay and won a Class 4A state championship in the event at Drake Stadium.

Adam Longwell, Adams, Eli Ebel and Geramie Hardaway finished in 57.73 seconds, the Cougars in 57.83.

The Hawks made a lineup shift, moving Adams to the second leg to match up against Kennedy ace Drew Bartels, and anchored with Hardaway.

“We knew Ceondae could stay with Bartels,” Hardaway said. “And I usually finish stronger that I start.”

Adams said, “We had faith. We knew Geramie could do it.”

Reid Pakkebier, Bartels, Max White and Brody Lovell ran for Kennedy.

Tied with West Des Moines Dowling heading into the final event, Cedar Falls won the 1,600-meter relay and outscored the Maroons by an 87-77 margin. Ankeny Centennial was third with 61 points.

Iowa City High finished in a sixth-place tie, Iowa City Liberty finished eighth, Kennedy ninth.

When a cloudburst hit Des Moines shortly before his 1,600-meter race, Liberty’s Bo Gryp “wasn’t even that disappointed.

“I think it helped me, actually,” the UNI recruit continued. “I think I’m mentally strong, and rain like that can get in people’s heads.”

Gryp’s head was clear and his legs were willing. He won in 4:19.02, nearly 3 seconds ahead of the field.

“The third turn was all water,” he said. “It was like running the steeplechase. But I trust my kick, and if I’m in range with 400 meters to go, I feel pretty confident.”

City High got a third-place finish from its sprint medley relay team, and from Ammon Smith in the 800.

“No. 1, I focus on catching the person in front of me,” medley anchor Jovan Harris said. “I know my boys trust me, and every time I step on the track, I’m going to run my heart out for them.”

STATE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Des Moines

CLASS 4A BOYS

Teams — 1. Cedar Falls 87, 2. West Des Moines Dowling 77, 3. Ankeny Centennial 61, 4. Ames 44.5, 5. Waukee 36, 6. (tie) Iowa City High and West Des Moines Valley 35, 8. Iowa City Liberty 31, 9. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 28, 10. Sioux City North 26.

Sprint medley relay — 1. Ankeny Centennial (Smith, Berry, Porter, Collins), 1:31.72; 2. Cedar Falls, 1:31.93; 3. Iowa City High, 1:32.61; 8. Cedar Rapids, Washington, 1:33.92.

800 — 1. Aniey Akok (Ames), 1:52.95; 2. T.J. Tomlyanovich (Cedar Falls), 1:53.08; 3. Ammon Smith (Iowa City High), 1:55.39; 7. Truman Thompson (Iowa City High), 1:56.80.

Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. Cedar Rapids Prairie (Longwell, Adams, Ebel, Hardaway), 2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 57.83; 8. Linn-Mar, 1:00.60.

100 — 1. Mikey McClain (West Des Moines Dowling), 10.79; 2. D'Eric Smith (Ankeny Centennial), 10.94; 3. Titus Christiansen (Southeast Polk), 11.07; 7. Isaac Rohret (Iowa City High), 11.17.

110 hurdles — 1. Adam Wright (West Des Moines Dowling), 14.51; 2. Mason Thompson (Ankeny), 14.51; 3. Koah Thompson (West Des Moines Dowling), 14.77; 4. Geramie Hardaway (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 15.11.

200 — 1. Mikey McClain (West Des Moines Dowling), 21.59; 2. Deonte Dean (Marshalltown), 21.76; 3. Carter Erickson (Indianola), 22.10; 7. Luke Meyers (Iowa City Liberty), 22.77.

1,600 — 1. Bo Gryp (Iowa City Liberty), 4:19.02; 2. Kole Sommer (Pleasant Valley), 4:21.86; 3. Gabe Nash (Sioux City North), 4:22.22; 7. Alex McKane (Iowa City West), 4:25.88; 8. Hayden Kuhn (Linn-Mar), 4:26.55.

400 relay — 1. Southeast Polk (LeClair, Christiansen, Nwankpa, Filloon), 42.35; 2. Indianola, 42.48; 3. West Des Moines Valley, 42.78; 7. Iowa City High, 43.32.

1,600 relay — 1. Cedar Falls (Mujica, Eastman, Burris, Tomlyanovich), 3:15.85; 2. Ankeny Centennial, 3:18.55; 3. West Des Moines Valley, 3:20.54; 8. Iowa City Liberty, 3:31.15.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com