Libby Dix’s discus title triggers Mount Vernon to lead in 3A girls’ team race

DES MOINES — Libby Dix focused on what she called “the small picture.”

It made a big difference.

Unseeded coming to the state track and field meet, the Mount Vernon senior captured the Class 3A girls’ discus championship Thursday morning at Drake Stadium.

“I was so much more relaxed than I was (at the state-qualifying meet last week),” a tearfully happy Dix said afterward. “I’d worked so hard, so I figured, ‘Why not me?’”

Why not, indeed.

Dix unleashed a throw of 148 feet, 10 inches -- about 3 1/2 feet farther than runner-up Olivia Hilby of Dubuque Wahlert.

“It’s really, really big for me, and it’s 10 points for the team,” said Dix, a two-time state wrestling champion who will throw next year for the University of Northern Iowa.

Her effort ignited a big opening day for Mount Vernon.

The Mustangs scored in four events Thursday and settled into the 3A girls’ lead with 23 points. Pella is second with 14 points, followed by defending champion Adel-DeSoto-Minburn (11).

“Everybody rallies around each other, no matter what place they get,” said Cali Whitaker, who finished third in the 400-meter dash.

The Mustangs also got a third-place effort out of its 3,200-meter relay.

Gilbert won that 4x800 in 9:14.60, then it was Marion (9:18.65) and Mount Vernon (9:21.41).

Greta Hansen, Jayda Carves, Addison Dabroski and Kyra Cordes competed for Marion.

“This 4-by-8 will always have a place in my heart,” Hansen said. “It’s sad that this will be the last one for us together.”

Three members of Marion’s foursome are seniors; Dabroski is the lone junior.

For Cordes, who will run at Central College next year, just making it back to the track in good health was a victory. She missed the Wamac Conference meet two weeks ago with mononucleosis.

“I thought it was just strep throat,” she said. “I was able to get back for (the state-qualifying meet) and help get everything qualified.”

The Wolves ran 9:23 at the Drake Relays, then coasted to 9:58.72 at regionals and were unseeded Thursday.

“I liked being the underdog,” Dabroski said.

Whitaker’s 56.34-second effort in the 400 was a school record.

“I was hoping for 57-flat,” she said. “I didn’t think I could go this fast. I’m so, so happy.”

Decorah’s Renae Wilson (high jump) and Maquoketa’s Izzy Hardin (3,000) also placed third.

STATE TRACK & FIELD

Class 3A Girls

Top 10 teams (through 5 events) — 1. Mount Vernon 23, 2. Pella 14, 3. Adel ADM 11, 4. (tie) Dubuque Wahlert, Decorah, North Polk, Clear Lake and Gilbert 10, 9. (tie) Harlan, Williamsburg, Davenport Assumption and Marion 8.

Discus — 1. Libby Dix (Mount Vernon), 148-10; 2. Olivia Hilby (Dubuque Wahlert), 145-3; 3. Charlee Morton (Hampton-Dumont/CAL), 139-1; 4. Kate Shafer (Solon), 137-9; 5. Grace Tangen (Decorah), 131-6.

High jump — 1. Reese Wagner (North Polk), 5-8; 2. London Warmuth (Adel ADM), 5-7; 3. Renae Wilson (Decorah), 5-5; T-5. Ellie Nielsen (Williamsburg), 5-2; 8. Sydney Maue (Mount Vernon), 5-2.

3,000 — 1. Marissa Ferebee (Pella), 9:51.96; 2. Lindsey Sonderman (Harlan), 9:54.31; 3. Izzy Hardin (Maquoketa), 10:16.51.

3,200 relay — 1. Gilbert (Andersen, Dear, Bleich, Feddersen), 9:14.60; 2. Marion, 9:18.65; 3. Mount Vernon, 9:21.41; 5. Center Point-Urbana, 9:38.61.

400 — 1. Reese Brownlee (Clear Lake), 54.84; 2. Kelly Grobstich (Davenport Assumption), 55.50; 3. Cali Whitaker (Mount Vernon), 56.34; 4. Ava Hocker (Williamsburg), 56.81; 8. Haley Williams (Western Dubuque), 58.27.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com