Ganschow's anchor gives Clippers a relay title

DES MOINES -- Jared Ganschow will have more opportunities.

But Zach Manders won't, and that's what drove Ganschow down the stretch of the Class 3A boys' 1,600-meter relay Saturday at the state track meet.

"I really wanted to get Manders the gold," Ganschow said after the chased down four runners to give Clear Creek Amana the relay title in 3 minutes, 21.77 seconds.

Ganschow was in fifth place before sprinting home.

"Around the middle of the (final) curve, I could tell the leaders weren't kicking. I knew I might have a chance," he said. "I hoped nobody else was coming with me, because I was dying out there."

Manders, the only senior of the quartet, had a view of his sophomore teammate's heroics.

"It was absolutely amazing," he said. "It's great that he cares enough for me to do that. We're great friends, but it's annoying that he beats me, because he's younger."

Dillon Villhauer and Caleb Sedlacek ran the first two legs for the Clippers, then Manders and Ganschow followed.

That was the only event won by an area 3A contestant -- boys or girls. Ganschow was second in the 200; Solon was the 400-meter relay runner-up.

Glenwood was the 3A boys' team champion with 78 points. DeWitt Central (67) was second, Waverly-Shell Rock (64) third.

Dubuque Wahlert ran away with the 3A girls' title, racking up 96 points. Davenport Assumption was second with 64, with Solon and Waverly-Shell Rock sharing third with 59 apiece.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon, the 2009 and 2010 champ, settled for fifth with 56 points. MV-L was second in the sprint medley relay, third in the shuttle hurdle and 1,600-meter relays. Bree Rehder was third in the 100 hurdles.

Madison Weekly of Benton Community was the 800-meter runner-up; Lauren Benzing of Solon was third.