Hurdles heartbreak for Foreman

DES MOINES -- This one hurt. It hurt bad.

Anne Leners of Pleasant Valley fought past Cedar Rapids Washington's Brooke Foreman in the girls' 400-meter hurdles Saturday afternoon at the Drake Relays.

Foreman had her heart set on a championship flag, but was heartbroken afterward instead.

Twice during postrace interviews, she had to leave and collect herself before returning.

"I blew it," Foreman said. "I really couldn't tell you (what happened)."

Foreman led through the majority of the race, but Leners caught and passed her down the stretch. Leners was clocked in 1:02.93, Foreman in 1:03.28.

By far a season best for the Drake signee, but she took no consolation in that.

"I don't settle for anything other than gold," Foreman said. "I fought my hardest, but (Leners) was stronger at the end."

Foreman gets another crack at Leners at the state meet here in three weeks. She didn't take any consolation in that, either.

"I don't get a Drake flag at state."

If Foreman's second place was bitter, Cascade's was strictly sweet.

The Cougars were 1,600-meter relay runners-up, finishing behind Davenport Assumption in 3:54.35. The Knights were clocked in 3:52.70.

"People kept asking us all weekend, 'Who's Cascade? Where's Cascade?' said Abbey Meyer.

Added Abby Green: "I think we put ourselves on the map. We're proud of who we are. People are going to know where Cascade is."

The Cougars picked up a pair of fourth-place relay finishes Friday, then bettered that Saturday. Their effort in the 1,600 relay ranks 14th all-time in Iowa history.

Green and Meyer ran the first two legs for the Cougars, then Tessa Helmle made up a 20-meter deficit on a third leg that got the Cougars on Assumption's shoulder. Allison Gibbs anchored.

"I was thinking, 'I've got to catch her, I've got to catch her,' " Helmle said.

Des Moines Roosevelt capped a huge weekend, winning its seventh title of the Relays in record time.

The Roughriders' effort of 47.55 seconds set an all-time Iowa best and a Drake Record. Runner-up Assumption ran 47.81 (No. 3 all-time in Iowa). Iowa City West was fourth.