Rima circles the track in style

DES MOINES — He's 'fresh.' And he's fast.

Cedar Rapids Prairie's Jalen Rima sported a lightning bolt shaven into his hairline, and was nearly lightning fast. The junior simmered through the Class 4A boys' 400-meter dash in 48.85 seconds at the state track and field meet Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

'It's crazy. It's a blessing,' Rima said. 'I was a little nervous, because I (was projected as) the guy to beat.'

Once upon a time, Rima was a hard sell on track.

'I wasn't crazy about it at first,' he said. 'But I noticed I was pretty good. Last year, my times kept going down and down. Thank God, (former football coach Mike Morrissey) made me do it.'

Like usual, Rima wore white running tights. The lightning bolt was a new twist.

'I gotta look fresh,' he smiled.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy racked up the field-event points on opening day. The Cougars stand in second place in the 4A boys' race with 25 points. Waukee leads with 34.

Willie Rhoads and Shaun Beyer went 2-3 in the high jump, clearing 6-8 and 6-7, respectively. Dalles Jacobus and Jackson Coker were second and sixth in the discus.

Jacobus uncorked a clutch effort of 164 feet, 6 inches on his final throw to move up three spots.

A four-sport athlete, Jacobus comes from an athletic family. His oldest brother, Devon, plays baseball at Grand View University. His next brother, Derek, is the Missouri Valley Conference decathlon champion at UNI. Both won state championships in high school — Devon in baseball, Derek in baseball and track.

'Their success drives me more. They keep me humble,' Dalles said. 'I tell them that I can out-lift them, and they just say, 'Where are your rings?''

Western Dubuque's Tyler Johnson was third.

Rhoads was despondent after finishing second to Johnston's Jared Seay in the high jump — 'I really can't do this right now,' he said to an interview request. Beyer, though, beamed after beating his career best by 2 inches.

'I've never gone this high,' he said. 'Not in a meet, not in practice.'

Beyer, a junior, said he'll miss the guidance and camaraderie of Rhoads — a senior — next year.

'It's like having another coach out there,' he said. 'If I miss, he can tell me what to do, what happened wrong.'

Linn-Mar was third in the 3,200 relay. Ames set an all-time Iowa best in the event, in 7:41.43.

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