CCA’s Landon Prince: Drake shot put non-qualifier to champion in one year

DES MOINES — Last year: Drake Relays shot put non-qualifier.

Thursday: Drake Relays shot put dominator.

Even Landon Prince struggled to explain how.

“I don’t know,” the Clear Creek Amana senior said after rolling to the high school boys’ title Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

“So many late nights in the weight room, that’s one reason. Plus, technically, I’m so much better. I’m so much more confident in the ring.”

Prince led the event after his first throw and won by nearly 3 feet. He topped the 60-foot mark on four of six throws, highlighted by an effort of 61 feet, 10 3/4 inches on his fifth heave.

“To go over 60 feet so many times ... I’m so happy,” Prince said.

Prince will pursue a shot put/discus sweep at 8:30 Friday morning.

“Right now, I think I’m better at the shot,” he said. ”But I have a lot to prove (Friday). I think I have so much more in the tank.“

Greyson Hartman of Washington (Iowa) was on the brink of early elimination, scratching his first two throws. His third throw, 58-11, moved him all the way to second place, and that’s how he finished.

“I started off a little rough,” Hartman said. “I had to calm down.

“I was hoping to win, but beggars can’t be choosers, right? I’m pretty happy with it.”

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s T.Y. Pour was the leader for much of the long jump competition, but Miciah LeLaCheur of West Des Moines Valley soared to the lead (22-10) on his second-to-last leap.

Pour was second at 22-9 1/4, recorded on his first jump.

“It’s a blessing,” said Pour, who won the Class 4A state championship last year and has overcome multiple injuries since. “I prepared well leading up to this.”

Mason Woods of Iowa City West was third.

Benton Community junior Eli Patterson established a career-best in the high jump, finishing third at 6-9.

“I’d been stuck at 6-7, and it’s good to finally get past that,” said Patterson, who cleared 6-8 on his first attempt and 6-9 on his third.

“I had to be confident in my ability, and I had to put it all together.”

Tyson Seeser of Camanche was the champion, clearing 7 feet.

Drake Relays: Thursday’s boys results

Shot put — 1. Landon Prince (Clear Creek Amana), 61-10 3/4; 2. Greyson Hartman (Washington), 58-11; 3. Tom Mikkelsen (Creston), 56-2 3/4; 4. James Barnett (Iowa City West), 55-11; 5. Alex Wilson (Sergeant Bluff-Luton), 55-6; 6. Triston Brandsoy (Forest City), 55-4 1/2; 7. Max Nevitt (Algona), 54-10; 8. Nick Milburn (Newton), 54-5 1/2.

Long jump — 1. Miciah LeLaCheur (West Des Moines Valley), 22-10; 2. T.Y. Pour (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 22-9 1/4; 3. Mason Woods (Iowa City West), 22-6 1/4; 4. Jamual Richardson Williams (Waukee), 22-1 3/4; 5. Rylan Peters (Waverly-Shell Rock), 22-1 3/4; 6. Deztin McMurrin (Waterloo West), 21-10 1/4; 7. Albear Van Zee (MOC-Floyd Valley), 21-8 3/4; 8. Carson Willits (Waukee Northwest), 21-5 3/4.

High jump — 1. Tyson Seeser (Camanche), 7-0; 2. Ryan Little (Albia), 6-9; 3. Eli Patterson (Benton Community), 6-9; 4. (tie) Kaiden Smith (Knoxville), Ryan Giberson (Fairfield), Eli Zillman (Fairfield), Bernard Grant (Iowa City High) and Victor Nakihinga (Iowa City Liberty), 6-4.

3,200 — 1. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 8:52.45; 2. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 8:56.11; 3. Ethan Zuber (Ankeny), 8:59.60; 4. Jaden Merrick (Cedar Falls), 9:02.74; 5. Keegan Decker (Iowa City Liberty), 9:05.11; 6. John Moellers (Marshalltown), 9:05.66; 7. Elias Arbuckle (Dallas Center-Grimes), 9:06.36; 8. Preston Johnson (Marshalltown), 9:09.37.

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