Zebras earn their stripes ... and another title

DES MOINES -- Alex Wilson is ready for a drinking binge. Her beverage of choice: Mountain Dew.

"I'm going to have my first one as soon as I get in the car," she said.

She earned it. They all did.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon captured its second consecutive Class 3A girls' title at the state track meet Saturday at Drake Stadium. It was nowhere near close.

The Zebras accumulated 92 points, leaving runner-up Dubuque Wahlert (55) -- and everybody else -- far, far behind.

And a sweets-less 2010 ended for Wilson and many of her teammates. Wilson had not soda or any sort of candy since New Year's Eve.

"I'm going after ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream," said Karly Cochrane. "Graduation parties will be very, very good to us."

Mount Vernon-Lisbon was very, very good, period. The Zebras picked up numerous second- and third-place finishes throughout the day, then put an exclamation point on it with a win in the 1,600-meter relay. Cochrane, Wilson, Kristin Canning and Holly Salzbrenner won it in 3:59.18.

The Zebras went into Saturday with a comfortable lead, and built upon it throughout the day. Last year, they had to come from behind to outscore Wahlert.

"I think this was scarier," Canning said. "We were expected to hold our own. There was a lot of pressure."

While Wilson planned to swig soda on the way home, Canning had more pressing issues.

"I have to write a speech," said Canning, the valedictorian of the Lisbon senior class.

For the Mount Vernon portion of this team, the title was the third of the school year. Mount Vernon won volleyball and basketball crowns in Class 2A.

"You can't ask for anything better," Cochrane said.

Benton Community freshman Madison Weekly captured the 1,500, outkicking Wilson in the final stretch and finishing in 4:55.03.

"I just wanted to stay behind and get her at the end," said Weekly, who also finished second in the 800.

"It was my first time here, and I was just wanting to run my race and see how it went."

Decorah won the Class 3A sprint medley relay -- the Vikings' first relay title in school history --  with Kayla Kregel anchoring, in 1:49.78.

She passed Cochrane with about 150 meters to go.

"I knew she was fast," Kregel said. "Mount Vernon's always fast. She was out there. I didn't know if I could do it."

Laura Francois, Megan Tappe and Kelsey Strand ran the first three legs for the Vikings.