Final event wins it for Lynx

MARION - The options continue to multiply for the North-Linn Lynx.

'I think we have a lot of things going through (Coach Bob Mudd's) head,” said senior Maddie Boer.

Nicole Miller set a meet record in the 800-meter run, and anchored the Lynx to another mark in the 3,200-meter relay as North-Linn came from behind to capture the team title at the Marion Invitational girls' track meet Thursday night at Thomas Park Field.

The Lynx won the final event - the 1,600 relay - to push past Marion, 90-87, to lead the 11-team field. West Delaware, led by four-event champion Emily Thole, was third with 86 points. Benton Community was fourth with 84.

Regionals are two weeks away, and state another week after that. The Lynx are defending Class 1A state champions and aiming for another title, but will have to be sharp to push past Hudson in their repeat bid.

Last year, the Lynx took the route of relays in the postseason. That's a possibility again, though Miller is an individual state-title threat in the 400, 800 and/or 400 hurdles. Boer won the 400 hurdles in her first crack at them this season.

Options, options everywhere. Determining a postseason lineup could be confusing, but it's a good problem to have.

'More than anything, (Mudd) wants us to have fun,” Miller said. 'And he knows we have fun running the relays. On the other hand, we could score well in some open events, too.”

North-Linn's top-end performers were running their fourth meet (starting with the Drake Relays) in eight days. Throw in last weekend's prom, and it's been a grind.

'I'm really tired, actually,” Miller said. 'But I think it's good for us. We didn't run very well at Drake, and we're using it as fuel. I wanted to run four events tonight; I want to be in shape.”

Miller and Boer were triple-winners. They combined on the record-setting 3,200 relay (9:48.87), then Miller established the new mark in the 800 (2:18.73) and Boer claimed the 400 hurdles (1:08.14). Then, with the title on the line, they led the 1,600 relay to the win in 4:07.60.

North-Linn trailed Marion by 13 points with two events remaining. A second-place finish by the 400 relay gave the Lynx a chance.

Thole swept the sprints - 12.82 in the 100, 26.11 in the 200 and 59.38 in the 400. She denied Miller and the Lynx in the sprint medley relay, holding on to give the Hawks the race in 1:51.91.

A four-sport star, Thole will run next year at Central Missouri.

'It was a tough decision between volleyball and track,” she said. 'Volleyball is a passion for me. People think I'm crazy, but I love track, too.”

Thole is not suffering from senioritis.

'There's a lot more spark there for me this year,” she said. 'I'm running better, but I still don't think I've peaked yet. I want this to be a year to remember.”

West Delaware's Jessie Dudak won the 100-meter hurdles and ran on the victorious shuttle hurdle relay.

Maddie Bach won the 3,000 and 1,500 to pace Marion, and Mahlia Brown led a 1-2 finish in the shot put. Benton won the 400- and 800-meter relays.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD: MARION INVITATIONAL

At Thomas Park Field

Teams - 1. North-Linn 90, 2. Marion 87, 3. West Delaware 86, 4. Benton Community 84, 5. Monticello 66, 6. Springville 43, 7. Independence 39, 8. DeWitt Central 38, 9. Fairfield 23, 10. Center Point-Urbana 19, 11. Anamosa 13.

Shot put - Mahlia Brown (Mar), 38-5 1/2; 2. Breanna Smith (Mar), 36-3 1/2; 3. Oceanna Papakee (BC), 35-3; Discus - 1. Becca Burmahl (Monti), 117-2; 2. Elizabeth Davis (BC), 110-5; 3. Kaytlyn Frasher (NL), 105-6; High jump - 1. Kaitlin Niedert (Ind), 5-1; 2. Shelby Hulsebus (BC), 5-1; 3. Jamie Glanz (WD), 5-1; Long jump - 1. Rylee Menster (Spr), 15-10; 2. Rachel Larabee (Monti), 15-5; 3. Johanna Steggall (Mar), 14-7.

3,000 - 1. Maddie Bach (Mar), 11:02.23; 2. Sami Fritz (Fair), 11:24.08; 3. Katelyn Gloeckner (Spr), 11:35.66; 3,200 relay - 1. North-Linn, 9:48.87 (meet record); 2. DeWitt Central, 10:14.50; 3. Center Point-Urbana, 10:19.92; Shuttle hurdle relay - 1. West Delaware, 1:07.90; 2. North-Linn, 1:07.93; 3. Marion, 1:11.42; 100 - 1. Emily Thole (WD), 12.82; 2. Chrissy Hoogland (Spr), 13.29; 3. MiKayla Whitman (Ana), 13.32; Distance medley relay - 1. DeWitt Central, 4:23.20; 2. Independence, 4:25.22; 3. Monticello, 4:25.65.; 400 - 1. Emily Thole (WD), 59.38; 2. Shelby Hulsebus (BC), 59.77; 3. Madi Wagaman (Spr), 1:03.36; 800 relay - 1. Benton Community, 1:48.01; 2. West Delaware, 1:51.28; 3. Marion, 1:51.60; 100 hurdles - 1. Jessie Dudak (WD), 16.02; 2. Sydney Brase (Mar), 16.85; 3. Becca Burmahl (Monti), 17.04; 800 - 1. Nicole Miller (NL), 2:18.73 (meet record); 2. Shelby Hulsebus (BC), 2:26.72; 3. Shae McEnany (Ind), 2:26.74; 200 - 1. Emily Thole (WD), 26.11; 2. Paige Holub (Monti), 27.19; 3. MiKayla Whitman (Ana), 27.27; 400 hurdles - 1. Maddie Boer (NL), 1:08.14; 2. Natalie Parizek (BC), 1:09.05; 3. Shalay Bronemann (Monti), 1:09.59; Sprint medley relay - 1. West Delaware, 1:51.91; 2. North-Linn, 1:53.31; 3. DeWitt Central, 1:58.18; 1,500 - 1. Maddie Bach (Mar), 5:07.60; 2. Shae McEnany (Ind), 5:07.61; 3. Paige Holub (Monti), 5:11.87; 400 relay - 1. Benton Community, 52.14; 2. North-Linn, 52.36; 3. Springville, 53.70; 1,600 relay - 1. North-Linn, 4:07.60; 2. Benton Community, 4:10.75; 3. West Delaware, 4:17.01.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com