Aidan Ramsey, Ford Washburn break the 9-minute barrier in Drake Relays 3,200

DES MOINES — Book it: These are the glory days of distance running by Iowa high school boys.

Dallas Center-Grimes’ Aidan Ramsey and Iowa City High’s Ford Washburn became the fifth and sixth boys in state history to eclipse the 9-minute mark in the 3,200 meters Thursday night.

Ramsey held off a furious surge by Washburn in the final 200 meters to win the Drake Relays title in 8:58.27 at Drake Stadium.

“That was a blast,” said Washburn, a junior. “I wasn’t expecting to do that at all.

“The weather was really nice. I checked the forecast a few days ago and it said 65 (degrees) and cloudy. I thought, ‘All right, it’s going to be a good day.’”

It was a fantastic day.

A senior bound for Drake University, Ramsey climbed to No. 4 all-time in Iowa. Washburn is No. 6. Jackson Heidesch of West Des Moines Dowling, who finished third in 9:01.29, is No. 9 all-time.

Five runners broke 9:10, 12 eclipsed 9:20. Hayden Kuhn of Linn-Mar (9:06.04) was fourth; Alex McKane of Iowa City West (9:11.41) was seventh.

Fast, fast stuff.

Washburn was one of three area boys to earn runner-up finishes Thursday. Linn-Mar’s McKade Jelinek was second in the discus; Lisbon’s Kole Becker was second in the long jump.

A 61-second seventh lap put Ramsey in front, then Washburn made a late bid that fell a couple of strides short.

“(Ramsey) started taking off, and I didn’t know if he was going to keep that pace,” Washburn said. “With a lap to go, he was still going.”

So Washburn gave chase, running his final lap in 59.5.

“I was racing for the win. Everybody was racing fast,” he said.

On the infield grass, maybe five minutes after the race concluded, Washburn had his breath back.

“Not really,” he said. “I’m gassed.”

Becker was in a bit of a bind after scratching his first two attempts. But he jumped to third on his final preliminary jump (22-3 1/4), moved into second place (22-10) on his first jump of the finals, then closed with a leap of 23-3 1/4.

“I scooted back quite a bit on my last (prelims) jump,” he said. “I needed to get to the finals.

“On my (sixth) jump, I thought I’d might as well go for it. I had nothing to lose.”

Abu Sama of Southeast Polk won at 23-11. Sama is the all-time Iowa leader, and Becker is No. 3.

Colton Kronfeld, a junior at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, was third at 22-3 1/2.

Jelinek finished behind Indianola’s Walker Whalen in the discus. Whalen laid down the gauntlet immediately with a first fling of 191-5; Jelinek’s best throw was his third, at 181-1.

“It was all right,” Jelinek said. “It was a little shaky at first, but that third throw got it done.

“I’ve got some things to clean up.”

Drake Relays: Thursday’s Boys Results

Discus — 1. Walker Whalen (Indianola), 191-5; 2. McKade Jelinek (Linn-Mar), 181-1; 3. Brandon VanderSluis (Le Mars), 180-6; 4. Nolan Recker (Muscatine), 178-0; 5. Lucas Morrison (Waukee Northwest), 177-3; 6. Duke Faley (Dubuque Wahlert), 171-4; 7. Corey Phillips (Ames), 170-1; 8. Justin Olson (George-Little Rock), 169-2.

Long jump — 1. Abu Sama (Southeast Polk), 23-11; 2. Kole Becker (Lisbon), 23-3 1/4; 3. Colton Kronfeld (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), 22-3 1/2; 4. Trey Campbell (Cedar Falls), 22-0 1/2; 5. Sam Akins (Dubuque Senior), 21-11 1/4; 6. Archer Ogbourne (Carlisle), 21-9 1/2; 7. Aiden Kuehl (Sioux City Heelan), 21-8 1/2; 8. Jay Gatto (Anamosa), 21-1 3/4.

3,200 — 1. Aidan Ramsey (Dallas Center-Grimes), 8:58.27; 2. Ford Washburn (Iowa City High), 8:59.60; 3. Jackson Heidesch (West Des Moines Dowling), 9:01.29; 4. Hayden Kuhn (Linn-Mar), 9:06.04; 5. Jackson Mace-Maynard (Newton), 9:06.16; 6. Will Ryan (West Des Moines Dowling), 9:10.72; 7. Alex McKane (Iowa City West), 9:11.41; 8. William Lohr (Sioux City North), 9:15.98.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com