Ferguson earns silver in shot

(RESULTS)DES MOINES -- The extent of Dalton Ferguson's what-ifs was minor.Ferguson might have taken the lead in the Class 3A boys shot put on his final throw, but slipped out of the front of the ring.Regrets? Nah, not really."(Winner Emmett Wester of Mount Pleasant) would have been thinking about it on his last throw, wouldn't he?" Ferguson smiled.Ferguson settled for second place at the state track and field meet Friday at Drake Stadium. His best throw of 55 feet, 6 inches was a career-best by almost 2 feet."I just felt like I had a lot of explosion in my hips," said the junior from Solon. "I put a lot of hard work in the weight room."Ferguson's finish, and a runner-up effort by Decorah's 1,600-meter medley relay, were the area highlights Friday in the 3A boys competition.Fort Madison takes the team lead into the final day. The Bloodhounds have 27 points with 10 events in the books. Glenwood (25), Mount Pleasant (24) Pella (21) and defending champion Decorah (20) are the primary chasers.Ferguson's best throw was his final preliminary heave. Wester took the lead (56-1 1/2) on his third throw, then capped it with a toss of 58-1 1/2 on his final attempt, after he had clinched the title.Decorah's medley team of Jacob Drost, Cole Svestka, Drew Schwartz and Kyle Hosting ran 3:31.95. Centerville won it at 3:31.38.