Rested and not rusty, Jesup’s Jack Miller takes Drake Relays long jump crown

DES MOINES — You could classify Jack Miller as somewhat of a casual long-jumper.

“I hadn’t stepped on a track in a week and a half, maybe two weeks,” said the senior from Jesup High School, who splits his spring between the track and the golf course.

“I do work on it outside of practice. I’ve got to keep my legs consistent.”

Miller took the lead with his first jump, and it held up by a healthy margin. He won the Drake Relays boys’ long jump title Thursday evening at Drake Stadium, with a leap of 23 feet, 3 1/4 inches.

“I was fourth (statewide) coming in, and we were all up there pretty close,” he said. “I figured anything could happen.

“That first one felt really good.”

Cedar Rapids Prairie junior T.Y. Pour entered with the state’s best effort this spring (23-1), and finished second Thursday at 22-6 3/4.

“I prepared a lot for this meet all week,” Pour said. “Maybe I overprepared physically.

“Second place is first loser, but I can’t complain. I’m at the Drake Relays, and this was part of God’s plan.”

Jacob Smetzer of Cedar Rapids Kennedy was fourth.

Thursday’s boys program featured a Drake record in the 3,200 meters — 8:55.14, by Cedar Falls sophomore Jaden Merrick. Upon finishing, Merrick accepted a flag from a Relays official, then followed it with a hug.

Merrick’s effort is No. 4 all-time in Iowa. He edged Ethan Zuber of Ankeny (8:56.68) for the title. Another sophomore, Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque was fourth in 9:05.46.

Nauman was running ninth at the midpoint of the race, then moved steadily frontward in the pack.

“I was aiming for under 9:10,” he said. “I saw my time when I finished and thought, ‘Holy ... ‘”

Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf placed fourth in the discus with a personal best of 181 feet, 9 inches.

His top effort came on his first throw of the day.

“The throw itself wasn’t the greatest, but I had a pretty good finish on it,” said the University of Iowa football commit.

“It proves I have a lot to work on — my footwork definitely. I was a little bit ahead of myself. I’ve got to slow down in the back of the ring. I left a little in the tank today.”

Weisskopf will compete in the high jump and shot put Friday.

Hanson King of Pella won it on his last throw of 186-7; Trevor Veenstra of Pella Christian (184-8) was second. Solon’s Ben Kampman, who topped 200 feet Tuesday at Stanwood, was eighth at 172-9.

Drake Relays: Thursday boys’ results

Discus — 1. Hanson King (Pella), 186-7; 2. Trevor Veenstra (Pella Christian), 184-8; 3. Nathan Rotherham (West Des Moines Dowling), 182-9; 4. Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg), 181-9; 5. Maxwell Tiarks (Underwood), 178-1; 6. Ian Blowe (Akron-Westfield), 176-6; 7. David Souvongsavath (Waukee), 173-9; 8. Ben Kampman (Solon), 172-9.

Long jump — 1. Jack Miller (Jesup), 23-3 1/4; 2. T.Y. Pour (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 22-6 3/4; 3. Josiah Cunnings (Charles City), 22-5 1/2; 4. Jacob Smetzer (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), 22-5; 5. Keshawn Wyldon (Burlington), 22-1 1/2; 6. Dawson Dougherty (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), 22-1; 7. Aren Schlemme (Clear Creek Amana), 21-11 3/4; 8. Daylin Schaefer (Lisbon), 21-11.

3,200 — 1. Jaden Merrick (Cedar Falls), 8:55.14 (Drake record); 2. Ethan Zuber (Ankeny), 8:56.68; 3. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 9:04.01; 4. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 9:05.46; 5. Tony Anania (Norwalk), 9:07.79; 6. Ethan Eichhorn (Lewis Central), 9:09.06; 7. Landon Bendgen (Woodbine), 9:10.27; 8. Carl Rekow (Pleasant Valley), 9:11.94.

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