Breitbach shines at home meet

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Molly Breitbach's grandfather is a coaching legend in these parts.

His advice sounds more grandfatherly than coachspeakish.

"He just tells me that if I try my best, I can't really fail," Breitbach said. "And if I do my best, I'm already a winner."

Friday, she was a double-winner.

The sophomore from Cedar Rapids Xavier was the premier sprinter at the Xavier Invitational girls' track meet at Saints Field, capturing the 100- and 200-meter races.

Breitbach carries a name of fame in the Cedar Rapids Catholic school system. Dick Breitbach won four state championships as boys' basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Regis.

But lineage doesn't get it done on the track. Speed does.

And Breitbach's got speed, including a quick burst out of the blocks.

She won the 100 meters in convincing fashion, bolting to victory in 12.59 seconds, more than a half-second ahead of the field. In the 200, she got out fast, then held off Cedar Falls' Kaz Brown.

Breitbach was clocked in 26.77 seconds, Brown in 26.79.

"I just tried to focus on the finish line. I felt (Brown) coming at the very last step," Breitbach said.

"My starts are probably the strongest part of my race. I really try to be solid through the first 50 meters. I really like the 100, probably better than the 200."

Cedar Falls ran away from the rest of the five-team field, scoring 212 points.

The Tigers won 11 events (including six of seven relays) and scored at least six points in every event.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy was second with 106 points, followed by Dubuque Senior (105), North Scott (80) and Xavier (67).

Kennedy got titles from Allison Culver (11:06.51 in the 3,000) and Aarionna Craig-Dothard (15-11 1/4 in the long jump).

Xavier's Alex Bartz cleared 5 feet to win the high jump.

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER INVITATIONAL

At Saints Field

Teams -- 1. Cedar Falls 212, 2. C.R. Kennedy 106, 3. Dubuque Senior 105, 4. North Scott 80, 5. C.R. Xavier 67.

Shot put -- 1. Alexis Watts (CF), 32-9 1/4; 2. Athalie Oladipofaniyi (NS), 30-6; 3. Mollie Bender (NS), 30-6; Discus -- 1. Mollie Bender (NS), 96-3; 2. Allison Griffin (CF), 95-5; 3. Katelynn Rheingans (NS), 92-5; High jump -- 1. Alex Bartz (CRX), 5-0; 2. Hannah Riebkes (CF), 4-10; 3. Jessica Bradley (DS), 4-10; Long jump -- 1. Aarionna Craig-Dothard (CRK), 15-11 1/4; 2. Melanie Stoss (CF), 15-3 1/2; 3. McKenzie Drahn (CRK), 14-10 1/4.

3,000 -- 1. Allison Culver (CRK), 11:06.51; 2. Jane Bradley (DS), 11:38.41; 3. Maddie Kemp (CF), 12:08.05; 3,200 relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 9:42.19; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 10:06.79; 3. Dubuque Senior, 10:24.87; Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. Dubuque Senior, 1:08.66; 2. Cedar Falls, 1:13.37; 3. North Scott, 1:19.88; 100 -- 1. Molly Breitbach (CRX), 12.59; 2. Madison Hersom (CF), 13.12; 3. Lizie Shimp (CF), 13.40; Distance medley relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 4:28.77; 2. Dubuque Senior, 4:34.86; 3. North Scott, 4:38.19; 400 -- 1. Natalie Shimp (CF), 1:03.10; 2. Hannah Timmerman (DS), 1:03.15; 3. Adison Long (CF), 1:04.51; 800 relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 1:47.57; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 1:49.39; 3. Dubuque Senior, 1:49.83; 100 hurdles -- 1. Sammie Osterberger (DS), 16.65; 2. Alexus Rogers (CRK), 17.39; 3. Kylie Hovanec (CF), 17.45; 800 -- 1. Brianna King (CF), 2:19.28; 2. Katie Wampole (CRK), 2:26.97; 3. Kayla Torson (CRX), 2:27.27; 200 -- 1. Molly Breitbach (CRX), 26.77; 2. Kaz Brown (CF), 26.79; 3. Nakiah Kimble (DS), 27.57; 400 hurdles -- 1. Emily Neff (CF), 1:08.45; 2. Allie Osterberger (DS), 1:10.29; 3. Jamie Becker (CF), 1:12.89; Sprint medley relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 1:54.16; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 1:57.61; 3. C.R. Xavier, 2:00.58; 1,500 -- 1. Allison Gregg (CF), 4:55.34; 2. Kayla Torson (CRX), 5:11.85; 3. Holly Schmitz (CF), 5:12.86; 400 relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 51.75; 2. C.R. Kennedy, 52.81; 3. Dubuque Senior, 53.25; 1,600 relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 4:11.28; 2. Dubuque Senior, 4:14.93; 3. C.R. Xavier, 4:22.17.

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