Iowa 3A boys’ state track and field: Marion harvests some silver in the 800-meter relay

DES MOINES — In terms of rest and preparation, the Marion Indians were at their best Friday morning, conditions notwithstanding.

'Everybody was fresh,' Connor Whalen said. 'We had another week of practice.'

The result was a second-place finish in the Class 3A boys' 800-meter relay at the state track and field meet at Drake Stadium. Cole Hemann, Isaac Cechota, Caden Miller-Baker and Whalen ran in 1:29.84. Dubuque Wahlert won it at 1:29.09.

'You always want that gold,' Whalen said. 'But we PR'd by a whole second. You have to be happy with that.'

Especially considering that the Indians went into the event seeded No. 6.

Friday's morning session was held in constant showers.

'The rain didn't make a difference,' Cechota said. 'Our chemistry was still there.'

Mount Pleasant is the team leader through 10 events, with 31 points. The Panthers are followed by Sergeant Bluff-Luton (28) and Pella (27).

The final nine events are scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m.

Solon's Rocky Lensing was third in the shot put with an effort of 52 feet, 3 1/4 inches.

He credited throwing coach Brad Wymer.

'He watches all this film for us; it boggles my mind,' Lensing said. 'He's never negative. He invests so much into us. I just follow his lead.'

STATE TRACK & FIELD: CLASS 3A BOYS

Friday's Finals, At Des Moines (Drake Stadium)

Top-10 teams (through 10 events) — 1. Mount Pleasant 31, 2. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 28, 3. Pella 27, 4. Dubuque Wahlert 22, 5. Atlantic 21, 6. Humboldt 18, 7. (tie) Boone and Harlan 17, 9. (tie) Algona and Nevada 16.

Long jump — 1. Keyontre Clark (Sioux City Heelan), 21-7 1/4; 2. Jamison Heinz (Humboldt), 21-6 1/4; 3. Trenton Beck (Carlisle), 21-5 1/4.

Shot put — 1. Nick DeJong (Pella), 57-11 1/2; 2. Mosai Newsom (Waverly-Shell Rock), 52-7 1/2; 3. Rocky Lensing (Solon), 52-3 1/4; 7. Cooper Becthold (Mount Vernon), 50-7 1/4.

800 relay — 1. Dubuque Wahlert (McDermott, Adams, Belken, Kuntz), 1:29.09; 2. Marion, 1:29.84; 3. Nevada, 1:30.64; 7. Clear Creek Amana, 1:32.62.

400 hurdles — 1. Joven Nelson (Nevada), 52.02; 2. Bret Price (Boone), 53.21; 3. Garrett Whitmore (Webster City), 54.17; 6. Ethan Hunt (Washington), 55.34; 8. Connor Whalen (Marion), 55.75.

Distance medley relay — 1. Atlantic (Niklasen, Colin Mullenix, Moen, Chase Mullenix), 3:31.13; 2. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 3:32.19; 3. Algona, 3:32.46.

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