CCA's Manders takes 2nd in 3A 400 hurdles

DES MOINES -- Zach Manders has made the transition from distance runner to hurdler/long sprinter quite well, thank you.

Manders earned a runner-up finish in the boys' Class 3A 400-meter hurdles at the state track meet Friday at Drake Stadium.

"I started doing it because (the coaches) let me," said Manders, a junior at Clear Creek Amana. "I had been a distance runner since eighth grade, and I was able to convince them to let me try."

Manders used a strong closing kick to finish in 54.68 seconds. Ryan Fahn of Harlan won it at 54.10.

"I was hoping to get first, but my main goal was to finish in the top three," Manders said. "I went out a little slower than I wanted. I tried to kick as much as I could at the end."

Sioux City Heelan is the team leader in the team race with 37 points. Algona is second with 30, followed by defending-champion DeWitt Central with 22.

Independence enjoyed a big day in the field events. Keaton Hosch was second in the long jump, Cameron Hayward was third in the shot put.