Lynx just short of a repeat

DES MOINES - No, the North-Linn Lynx did not repeat. But it's not as if they backtracked.

The Lynx scored more points than they did in last year's championship run, but were outpointed by Hudson, 72-67, in the Class 1A girls' race at the state track meet Saturday at Drake Stadium.

'We did all we could, and we worked with who we had,” Taylor Burke said.

Hudson was the 2A runner-up last year and benefited from the transfer of Dani Reichert, who ran for Dunkerton last year. The Pirates and the Lynx combined to win all seven relays - four by North-Linn.

Pekin was third with 57 points.

The Lynx earned a title in the shuttle hurdle relay, then capped it with the crown in the 1,600-meter relay. Burke and Maddie Boer were in both of those; they were accompanied by Abby Klendworth and Brooke Dobney in the shuttle and Sydney Mertens and Nicole Miller in the finale.

Miller joined Abbey Meyer of Cascade (2014) as Iowa's record-holder of girls' state-meet relay wins, with 10. Boer was a four-event champion this weekend, winning the 3,200 relay and the 400 hurdles.

North-Linn finished third, fourth, first and second in the last four state meets.

'We've been together forever,” Boer said. 'I think I'll go to practice, out of habit, Monday.”

The Lynx completed the shuttle in 1:06.33, exactly 2 seconds ahead of runner-up Logan-Magnolia, then grabbed the 1,600 relay in 4:04.74.

Miller was fourth in the 800.

'My legs have been tight all day,” Miller said. 'I have THE biggest knot in my calf right now.”

Miller will return here in a couple weeks to begin summer classes at Drake University, where she will play basketball.

'I have so many emotions running through my head,” she said. 'I wouldn't want to end my high school career with anyone else; I love having teammates I can count on.”

Katie Maschmann of Montezuma swept the sprints, running the 100 in 12.76 and the 200 in 25.41.

'This feels so good,” Maschmann said. 'There was a lot of pressure during the season. I knew I could do it, and I'm glad I could do it again.”

Maschmann edged SICL rival Jolissa Kriegel of BGM twice; Kriegel was second in the 200, fourth in the 100. She also anchored the Bears' runner-up sprint medley relay.

'Seems like we run against each other at every meet,” Maschmann said.

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