BGM’s Jolissa Kriegel takes back 1A 400 crown

DES MOINES — BGM's Jolissa Kriegel knows both sides of the coin.

She tasted victory as a sophomore in the 400-meter dash at state, but finished runner-up last season as a junior to former Hudson runner Maddie Bell — now at Northern Iowa.

As she cruised down the homestretch in the last open 400 of her high school career, she was not to be denied. Kriegel won in a personal-best 58.08, edging Alyssa Pfadenhauer of Danville by .28 seconds.

'It's really meaningful because I know what it's like to lose and I know what it's like to work really hard to try to get it,' Kriegel said. 'My mom always tells me I need to think of the voice in my head and try to be your best. Try not to focus on the other runners, but just try to be my best.'

Kriegel was also aware of Elkader Central's Haley Schroeder and what her presence means. Schroeder clocked in third (58.64), but Kriegel said she could easily feel Schroeder getting closer just a couple lanes away.

'She pushed me really hard my sophomore year when she was with me,' Kriegel said of Schroeder. 'Knowing she was running it again this year, she pushed me so I'm thankful for that.'

Although she missed out on an open 400 title, Schroeder was the anchor in Elkader Central's 3,200-relay team that claimed victory. Elkader Central ran away from the field in 9:44.69.

'We've been waiting for this year since our freshman year,' Schroeder said. 'We had a couple great underclassmen that helped us pull through this year and I couldn't ask for a better way to end.'

Freshman Ciera Deitchler helped create the necessary separation on her second leg carry, letting seniors Emily Asche and Schroeder hold steady for the win.

'The last 200 I felt really good,' Deitchler said. 'I just felt like I could give it all and finish strong.'

STATE TRACK & FIELD MEET: CLASS 1A GIRLS

Teams (through five events) — 1. Elkader Central, 19; 2. Bishop Garrigan, 14; 3. West Hancock, 12; 4. East Mills, 10; 4. AGWSR, 10; 4. BGM, 10; 4. Wapsie Valley, 10; 8. Sioux Central, 9; 9. Danville, 8; 9. Midland, Wyoming, 8

Results (top 3, plus area)

Shot put — 1. Mackenzie Goeller (Wapsie Valley), 40-02.25; 2. Libertie Uppena (Midland, Wyoming), 39-04.25; 3. Caitlin Thilges (Bishop Garrigan), 38-06.50

Long jump — 1. Maria Gonzalez (West Hancock), 18-04; 2. Johanna Vaske (Bishop Garrigan), 17-02.50; 3. Haylee Fortune (Wayne, Corydon), 16-08.25; 4. Summer Barthelman (Sigourney), 16-04.50; 6. Reegan Happel (Lisbon), 16-02.75; 7. Aly Stokes (Highland), 16-02

3,000 — 1. Janette Schraft (East Mills), 10:48.20; 2. Bethany Lippert (AGWSR), 11:09.19; 3. Kyla Wilkening (GMG, Garwin), 11:21.63; 4. Katie Brennan (Lansing Kee), 11:27.40; 7. Sarah McMurtry (Starmont), 11:35; 8. Hanna Hess (Edgewood-Colesburg), 11:37.65

3,200 relay — 1. Elkader Central (A. Funk, C. Deitchler, E. Asche, H. Schroeder), 9:44.69; 2. Sioux Central, 9:52.26; 3. Jesup, 9:52.84; 6. North Linn, 10:04.65; 8. Turkey Valley, 10:14.99

400 — 1. Jolissa Kriegel (BGM), 58.08; 2. Alyssa Pfadenhauer (Danville), 58.36; 3. Haley Schroeder (Elkader Central), 58.64; 6. Ciera Deitchler (Elkader Central), 1:00.32

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