Salzbrenner provides some light for MV-L

DES MOINES -- Holly Salzbrenner was majorly bummed and minorly distracted.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," she said.

Salzbrenner took the blocks a few minutes after a false start in the distance medley relay tore a giant gash in Mount Vernon-Lisbon's hopes for a third conseutive Class 3A championship at the girls' state track meet.

She ran any frustrations aside, repeating as the 400-meter hurdles champion in 1:03.08.

"I wanted to improve my (3A state record of 1:02.53, set last year), but my first goal was to win the race," she said. "This feels ... awesome."

She did, convincingly. Salzbrenner finished more than 3 seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.

Salzbrenner's performance was the sweet part of a bittersweet day for Mount Vernon-Lisbon. The T-Rexes were top-seeded in the distance medley, but disqualified before the race began.

Dubuque Wahlert continued to pile up the points and build a big margin.

Through nine events, Golden Eagles have 52 points. Davenport Assumption is second with 31, followed by Solon (30) and Mount Vernon-Lisbon (22).

Solon scored well in two relays. Emily Bransky, Karly Kramer, Taylor Van Scoyoc and Courtney Holub ran second to Davenport Assumption in the 800-meter relay. The Knights finished in 1:43.71, the Lady Spartans in 1:45.01.

"We really want to place in every event we're in," Holub said. "We want to make up as many points as we can."

Solon was third in the distance medley, and Bransky was third in the long jump.

Helena McNamara of Anamosa was third in the shot put.