Five boys’ events, four area champions on Day 1 of the state track and field meet

DES MOINES — The state track and field meet brings out the best — and worst — in hairstyles from high school athletes across Iowa.

“I didn’t want a buzz cut, and I didn’t want to bleach it,” Center Point-Urbana’s Nathan Miller said.

So he sought the assistance of younger sister Sydney Miller, a seventh-grader who inserted black and gold beads in older brother’s braids.

Style by Sydney, substance by Nathan.

Running in Lane 8, Miller set a Class 3A boys’ state-meet record in the 400-meter dash, circling the oval in 47.88 seconds.

“Even in Lane 8, I knew I had it in me,” said Miller, a recruit of Bradley University. “I knew if I went out hard, I wouldn’t see anybody to my side until the last 100.

“This means a lot to me. I wanted to get at least one gold. The state record is unbelievable.”

Five 3A boys’ events were contested Thursday at Drake Stadium. Four were won by area individuals.

Miller was joined on the winners’ podium by Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman (3,200), Benton Community’s Eli Patterson (high jump) and Clear Creek Amana’s Landon Prince (discus).

As for the team race, Pella is the early leader. The Dutch have 26 points, followed by Gilbert (16), Fairfield (14) and CPU (13).

Nauman’s title was mostly responsible for Western Dubuque’s 11 points. The Bobcats are defending 3A boys’ champions.

The question surrounding Nauman’s unmatchable kick isn’t “if,” but “when.” Thursday, it came with 425 meters to go, when he blasted past rival/friend Canaan Dunham of Pella.

Nauman’s 55.8-second final lap got him the win in 8:57.97.

“We were out kind of slow in the first mile at 4:40,” Nauman said. “I had a burst of energy, and I was going to keep going, no matter what.”

Prince was the Drake Relays champion in both the discus and the shot put, and is halfway to a state meet throwing sweep. A recent commit to the University of Iowa, Prince flung the disc 181 feet, 10 inches.

He was fourth at state last year.

“I have high expectations, and I want to meet those expectations, but I’m very grateful,” Prince said. “(My growth) is crazy to me. It’s a crazy feeling. It’s a testament to all of the work I’ve put in.”

Patterson moved up a notch after finishing second in the high jump last year. His clearance of 6-7 was four inches better than anyone else in 3A.

“I wanted to win it, and I’m super happy that I did,” the junior said. “Six-10 would have been awesome, but I can’t be unhappy with a championship. It was windy, but I competed through it and got the job done.”

Mount Vernon ran second to Pella in the 3,200-meter relay. The Dutch won in 7:53.08; the Mustangs established a school record in 7:54.16.

“Our quickest coming in was 8:02. Going this fast, it’s so amazing,” said Grady Olberding, the Mustangs’ third runner. This was the last time with this group, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.“

Greyson Hartman of Washington was third in the discus.

STATE TRACK & FIELD

Class 3A Boys

Top 10 teams (through 5 events) — 1. Pella 26, 2. Gilbert 16, 3. Fairfield 14, Center Point-Urbana 13, 5. Western Dubuque 11, 6. (tie) Clear Creek Amana and Benton Community 10, 8. Sioux City Heelan and Mount Vernon 8, 10. Fort Madison 7.5.

Discus — 1. Landon Prince (Clear Creek Amana), 181-10; 2. Carson McInerney (Sioux City Heelan), 173-10; 3. Greyson Hartman (Washington), 169-8; 8. Justin Kurt (Western Dubuque), 158-4.

High jump — 1. Eli Patterson (Benton Community), 6-7; 2. (tie) Eli Zillman (Fairfield) and Ryan Giberson (Fairfield), 6-3; T-6. Kaden Hoeper (Solon), 6-1.

3,200 — 1. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 8:57.97; 2. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 9:06.76; 3. Logan Bleich (Gilbert), 9:19.48.

3,200 relay — 1. Pella (Gaulke, Browne, Ebersole, Dunham), 7:53.08; 2. Mount Vernon, 7:54.16; 3. Winterset, 7:56.23; 5. Decorah, 8:00.50; 8. Washington, 8:03.05.

400 — 1. Nathan Miller (Center Point-Urbana), 47.88; 2. Harrison Mullens (Pella), 48.49; 3. Tom Scherr (Dubuque Wahlert), 48.96; 4. Rayce Heitman (Williamsburg), 49.00; 6. Cooper Grimm (Center Point-Urbana), 50.02; 7. Grant Hocker (Williamsburg), 50.24.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com