Iowa state track 3A girls’ results: Audrey Biermann prevails in 400 showdown

DES MOINES — This wasn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill competitor that Audrey Biermann ran down.

It was Ainsley Erzen of Carlisle, a double-winner at the Drake Relays.

“I definitely felt a little pressure,” Biermann said. “She’s a really good runner.”

But Biermann is a superior kicker, and when it became a kickers’ race, Biermann pounced.

A junior from Western Dubuque, Biermann raced past Erzen at the end, winning the Class 3A girls’ 400-meter dash at the state track and field meet Thursday at Drake Stadium.

Biermann was clocked in 55.80 seconds, Erzen — the Drake champion in the 400 and 800 — finished in 56.21.

“I’m so excited,” Biermann said. “I’m speechless. I saw her coming on the inside of me, but I really wanted it. I had to dig down and kick really hard.”

Biermann already had two races under her belt, a preliminary in the 100 and one in the 200. She’ll take the top time in both events into Saturday’s finals.

Ignited by a 1-4 finish in the 3,000 meters, Ballard is the first-day leader in the 3A team race.

The Bombers have 19 points through five events. Charles City is second with 16 points, followed by Oskaloosa (13), Dubuque Wahlert (12) and Western Dubuque (12).

Solon has 10 points, thanks to a breathtaking effort in the 3,200-meter relay.

Kaia Holtkamp, Anna Quillin, Gracie Federspiel and Emma Bock carried the baton in 9:21.84, beating the field by more than 13 seconds.

“That’s crazy,” Bock said. “Definitely not expected.”

Federspiel broke the race open with a carry of 2:18, then Bock closed it with another 2:18 split.

“I knew I had to go fast,” Federspiel said. “I just kept going ... 9:21, that’s unbelievable. It’s shocking.”

Bock said, “I knew Grace was going to get us the lead. She’s that competitive.”

STATE TRACK & FIELD

At Des Moines

CLASS 3A GIRLS

Teams (through 5 events) — 1. Ballard 19, 2. Charles City 16, 3. Oskaloosa 13, 4. (tie) Dubuque Wahlert and Western Dubuque 12, 6. (tie) Davenport Assumption and Waverly-Shell Rock 11, 8. (tie) Keokuk and Solon 10, 10. (tie) Bondurant-Farrar and Carlisle 8.

Discus — 1. Faith DeRonde (Oskaloosa), 140-1; 2. Katelyn Lappe (Bondurant-Farrar), 135-6; 3. Kendal Clark (Humboldt), 134-10.

High jump — 1. Miracle Ailes (Keokuk), 5-7; 2. Keely Collins (Charles City), 5-6; 3. Jacie Vander Waal (Sioux Center), 5-4.

3,000 — 1. Shewaye Johnson (Ballard), 9:57.21; 2. Kiki Connell (Charles City), 10:03.88; 3. Emma Hoins (Waverly-Shell Rock), 10:04.48; 8. Kay Fett (Center Point-Urbana), 10:46.02.

3,200 relay — 1. Solon (Holtkamp, Quillin, Federspiel, Bock), 9:21.84; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 9:34.99; 3. Harlan, 9:40.24; 7. Western Dubuque, 9:56.50; 8. Marion, 10:00.79.

400 — 1. Audrey Biermann (Western Dubuque), 55.80; 2. Ainsley Erzen (Carlisle), 56.21; 3. Laney Fitzpatrick (Davenport Assumption), 57.66; 4. Alyssa Larson (Independence), 58.26.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com