After Drake Relays, Xavier qualifiers focus on state berths

CEDAR RAPIDS - When the 2018 track and field season began, Xavier seniors Ethan Brown, Theresa Lampe and sophomore Josh Volk focused on qualifying for the Drake Relays.

They knew qualifying was not far out of reach.

'I knew the extra work I put in was what it was going to take to qualify,” Brown said.

All three represented the Saints at the Drake Relays - Brown and Volk in the shot put and Lampe in the 100 meter hurdles. Volk placed 14th with a toss of 51 feet, 9 inches, followed by Brown at 51-5. Lampe placed 30th in her hurdle race with a time of 16.36.

Although she did not place as well as she had hoped, her love for running has not been lost.

'I run because it is fun,” Lampe said. 'The feeling of working hard to achieve something is awesome and it is satisfying when you run a good race.”

These three Saints are not done yet. They all share the same goal of making it to and placing well at the state meet.

As long as Volk has his Snickers, he sees this happening.

'I love throwing,” Volk said. 'It has always been a passion of mine, but I need a Snickers first.”

Earlier this season, Volk broke the school record for shot put, with a throw of 53-11 at the Cedar Rapids Xavier Invitational.

Now it's on to the state qualifying meets on Thursday. Xavier is in a Class 3A meet at Solon that also includes Marion, Anamosa, Mount Vernon and the host Spartans.