Iowa state track 1A results: Kelly Proesch makes North Cedar history

DES MOINES — Kelly Proesch made history on Friday at the state track and field meet.

Proesch became the first North Cedar girl to win a state title.

The senior won the title in the 1A girls’ 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.97.

“I just feel so grateful,” Proesch said. “It could’ve been my sister (Grace). She left her legacy at North Cedar. ... she was a great athlete and she’s the one that inspires me the most.

“I’m so happy I could do this for her and my family. It’s my senior year and I’m so happy I could do this for them.”

Proesch actually was in the second of three heats, so she had to wait out and watch the final heat from the infield to see if she would be the first North Cedar girl to break through.

“I knew I was going to have to run against the clock,” Proesch said. “I gave it my all and left it all on the track. I knew I could burn it up but I was still very nervous.

“I was watching that last heat and I was just praying for the clock to pass 1:04.”

Proesch has made a name for herself in the 100-meter hurdles this spring. She qualified first on Friday with a time of 15 seconds flat. She also qualified for the finals in the 100- and 200-meter sprints.

This actually is her first year running the 400 hurdles.

“Honestly, it came pretty naturally to me,” Proesch said. “I ran the open 400 my freshman year with my sister a couple times and the hurdling obviously wasn’t that big of a deal. It was the endurance that was the tough part. I’m a sprinter. But after I got my endurance down, it was so much better for me. Still, it’s obviously very challenging.

“The 100 hurdles is my favorite race but it’s been a fun experience this year and it’s fun to get this as my fourth event. It’s fun, it is a challenge and it makes me feel good after.”

Hailey Carolan of Alburnett was second in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches on her second jump. Jaden Gatts of Midland was fourth , also clearing 5 feet, 2 inches, but on her third jump.

South Winneshiek is in seventh place with 12 team points in the team race. South Winn’s Emmaleigh Ohrt placed second in the discus on Friday with a throw of 126 feet, 1 inch.

Proesch’s history-making run thrust North Cedar into 11th place with 10 points.

Bishop Garrigan and Tri-Center lead 1A girls with 20 points.

Lisbon’s Kole Becker shines, too

Lisbon’s Kole Becker had his own special 400-meter hurdles race at Drake Stadium.

Becker, who won the long jump on Thursday, captured his second title of the weekend in the in a time of 54.90.

That extra digit at the end is important because Becker barely edged out HLV’s Beau York, who finished second in 54.93.

York actually was leading for most of the race, including down the stretch, before Becker edged him at the finish line.

In real time, it was impossible to tell who won.

“I started picking up speed between the second-to-last and last hurdle,” Becker said. “That’s when I was like, ‘I’m pretty close. I might as well give it all and see if I can make it close.’ Turns out, I won by that little bit.”

The 400 hurdles can take a lot out of an athlete, and Becker said that’s no different for him. So where did that extra kick at the end come?

“It came from the seed that I got,” Becker said. “I was running in lane one, so that motivated me even more. It helped push me to the end.”

Lisbon has 25 team points — 20 of which have come from Becker — and finished Friday in fifth place. Madrid leads the 1A boys’ team race with 34 1/2 points.

CLASS 1A GIRLS TEAM SCORES

T-1. Algona Garrigan 20

T-1. Tri-Center 20

3. Fort Dodge St. Edmond 18

T-4. Nashua-Plainfield 14

T-4. Danville 14

T-4. Paton-Churdan 14

CLASS 1A GIRLS DISCUS

1. Danielle Hoyle (Paton-Churdan), 130-11

2. Emmaleigh Ohrt (South Winneshiek), 126-1

3. Breanna Hackman (Nashua-Plainfield), 123-0

CLASS 1A GIRLS HIGH JUMP

1. Cadence Douglas (Lenox), 5-2

T-2. Hailey Carolan (Alburnett), 5-2

T-2. Sam Nielson (North Union), 5-2

CLASS 1A GIRLS DISTANCE MEDLEY

1. Tri-Center, 4:16.00

2. Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 4:16.38

3. Newell-Fonda, 4:16.76

CLASS 1A GIRLS 4x200

1. Madrid, 1:44.82

2. Nodaway Valley, 1:46.66

3. Wapello, 1:48.11

CLASS 1A GIRLS 400 HURDLES

1. Kelly Proesch (North Cedar), 1:04.97

2. Dannika Demers (Storm Lake St. Mary’s), 1:05.81

3. Kiya Johnson (North Butler), 1:06.72

CLASS 1A BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. Madrid 34.5

2. Earlham 28

T-3. Wapsie Valley 26

T-3. Woodbine 26

5. Lisbon 25

CLASS 1A BOYS HIGH JUMP

1. Gunner Meyer (Wapsie Valley), 6-5

2. Conner Piehl (Tripoli), 6-3

3. Matthew Benedict (Sidney), 6-3

CLASS 1A BOYS DISCUS

1. Layne Pryor (Woodbine), 182-9

2. Carter Allen (New London), 160-6

3. Zach Verzani (Lawton-Bronson), 160-5

CLASS 1A BOYS 4x200

1. Le Mars Gehlen, 1:31.31

2. Grundy Center, 1:31.64

3. Wapsie Valley, 1:31.69

CLASS 1A BOYS 400 HURDLES

1. Kole Becker (Lisbon), 54.90

2. Beau York (HLV), 54.93

3. Connor McKee (Anita CAM), 55.01

CLASS 1A BOYS DISTANCE MEDLEY

1. Earlham, 3:37.91

2. Calamus-Wheatland, 3:38.88

3. North Linn, 3:40.82

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