Mount Vernon-Lisbon gallops to the front in 3A

DES MOINES -- No, it's not over yet.

But Mount Vernon-Lisbon has the rest of the field on the ropes, and still has a few punches yet to throw.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon won two events, got second in another and took control of the Class 3A girls' race at the state track meet Friday at Drake Stadium.

The combined program, self-named as the Zebras, have 45 points in their pocket and a good number more in store for Saturday.

Decorah is second with 31 points, followed by Dubuque Wahlert (29).

"We're peaking when we need to be peaking," said Karly Cochrane, who earned her second relay title of the weekend when she anchored MV-L to victory in the distance medley relay. "We just perform when we get on this track."

Holly Salzbrenner emerged from the shadow of Oelwein's Tashina McAllister in the 400-meter hurdles, defeating the two-time defending champion in a 3A-record time of 1:02.53.

Salzbrenner had finished second to McAllister both times.

"I definitely wanted that to end," Salzbrenner said. "I had to go out strong, because she has more foot speed than me."

Salzbrenner made up the stagger on McAllister within 120 meters left, and won comfortably. McAllister was second in 1:03.87.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon's distance medley made it look easy, as well. Jessie Binsfield, Courtney Kintzel, Kristin Canning and Cochrane finished in 4:06.22, more than 3 seconds ahead of Wahlert.

MV-L was well in front after its 200 legs.

"We knew we had to get it going and kick it the best we could," said Kintzel, who later anchored Mount Vernon-Lisbon to second in the 800-meter relay.

Still, Cochrane was edgy when she got the baton.

"Frankly, I was running for my life," she said. "There were some very talented runners behind me. (Madison) Weekly (of Benton Community), she's a great freshman who doesn't run like a freshman."

Weekly rallied Benton to third.

Binsfield, Kelli Huenecke, Canning and Kintzel ran the 4x200 in 1:44.24, behind Davenport Assumption.

Marion's Alyssa Biery was a surprise winner in the shot put, taking the lead with a first throw of 40 feet, 6 inches. She never surpassed it, but neither did anyone else.

"My goal was just to place in the top eight," she said. "I worked hard, set goals and got more relaxed and confident in the ring.

"That first throw, I think got in everyone else's head. I got a little nervous toward the end; otherwise, I was just having fun."