Quentin Nauman completes a Drake distance triple crown with a state-record 1,600

DES MOINES -- Whether it’s the all-time Iowa best in the 1,600 meters or the unprecedented distance triple crown, this is clear:

Quentin Nauman stands alone.

The Western Dubuque High School junior concluded a three-day, three-race blaze of glory Saturday afternoon at the Drake Relays, using his unmistakable, unmatchable closing kick to claim the boys’ 1,600 in 4:05.17.

“I love the Drake Relays. I love the voice of (public-address announcer) Mike Jay,” Nauman said after becoming the first Iowa high school boy to sweep the 3,200, 1,600 and 800 in the same weekend.

“When I leave Iowa after my senior year, I’m going to miss this place so much.”

It’s far too early for sentimentality; Nauman still has the state meet here in four weeks, plus his senior cross country and track seasons.

But by the time he departs for the University of Oregon next summer, he might take along the best resume of any distance guy the state has produced.

“I’ve just got to keep working,” he said. “My distance coach (Elaina Biechler) has me peak for state, and I have total trust in her. She’s beyond a high-school distance coach, she’s probably overqualified.”

Des Moines Christian’s Caleb Ten Pas led through the first 1,200 meters. But as has become a steady theme, Nauman ruled at the end.

He ran his final 400 in 56.2 seconds, his last 800 in 1:55.9.

“Once a gap opened between Ten Pas and the pack, I knew a PR was going to happen, and a great race was going to happen,” Nauman said after seizing the lead with 200 meters to go.

So what sets Nauman apart? Let’s ask one of his biggest rivals -- and best friends -- on the distance-running scene:

“He has a huge kick. He’s mentally tough, a smart racer. He has great racing strategy,” Pella’s Canaan Dunham said. “He’s a great competitor and makes everybody else better.”

A should-be slam dunk for Drake’s Most Outstanding Performer among high school boys (the announcement is Monday), Nauman won the 3,200 (8:52.45, a Relays record) Thursday and captured the 800 (1:51.76) Friday.

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CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY ran to second place in a pair of boys’ relays Saturday.

Jackson Goslin, Ryan Bartels, Dallas Keller and Brayden Peck ran second to Waukee Northwest in the always-perilous shuttle hurdle relay.

Peck had a slight lead before a mishap on the ninth hurdle.

“It’s tough,” Bartels said. “So many things can go wrong. I feel bad. (Peck is) probably going to blame himself. It wasn’t his fault. Anything can happen.”

Northwest set an all-time Iowa best in 56.82 seconds. Peck got up immediately and secured second; Kennedy was clocked in 58.31.

The Cougars’ 57.58-second effort in the prelims was a school record.

In the 4x100, Johnston outdueled the Cougars’ foursome of Dawson Dougherty, Jacob Doyle, Bartels and Chauncey Bodden, 41.84 seconds to 41.89.

“We should get faster by state,” Bodden said. “We just need to be us, get the little ‘icks’ out of our handoffs. That’s it.”

A day after a surprising runner-up finish in the open 400, Center Point-Urbana’s Nathan Miller followed it up by placing fourth in the 400 hurdles in 52.80 seconds.

“I really don’t have words for it,” said Miller, who plans to run for Bradley. “I’ve been taking good care of my body, eating well, getting lots of sleep.”

Miller’s previous career-best was 54.2.

“I guess I just skipped (the 53s),” he said.

Cedar Rapids Prairie was fifth in the 4x400, sixth in the 4x100. Iowa City West was fifth in the 4x800.

Drake Relays: Saturday’s boys results

3,200 relay — 1. Ankeny (Robie, Smith, Rathje, Zuber), 7:41.41; 2. Cedar Falls, 7:43.12; 3. West Des Moines Dowling, 7:46.10; 4. Waukee Northwest, 7:48.18; 5. Iowa City West, 7:52.64; 6. Pleasant Valley, 7:55.29; 7. Norwalk, 7:56.42; 8. Ankeny Centennial, 7:56.58.

Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. Waukee Northwest (Eastman, Muhktar, Ludwig, Ludwig), 56.82; 2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 58.31; 3. Cedar Falls, 58.95.

400 hurdles — 1. Gabe Funk (Lenox), 52.40; 2. Cael Woods (Ankeny Centennial), 52.60; 3. Caden Klein (Newton), 52.66; 4. Nathan Miller (Center Point-Urbana), 52.80; 5. Joe Dewald (Westwood), 53.29; 6. Jayden Jeter (Waukee), 53.41; 7. Ryker Dengler (West Liberty), 53.46; 8. Austin Van Horn (Waukee Northwest), 54.12.

400 relay — 1. Johnston (Barkue, King, Beachem, Peterson), 41.84; 2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 41.89; 3. Ankeny Centennial, 42.03; 4. Ankeny, 42.12; 5. West Des Moines Dowling, 42.29; 6. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 42.47; 7. Algona, 42.63; 8. Cedar Falls, 43.00.

1,600 — 1. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 4:05.17; 2. Caleb Ten Pas (Des Moines Christian), 4:07.70; 3. Owen Wolfe (West Des Moines Dowling), 4:09.41; 4. Ethan Zuber (Ankeny), 4:10.69; 5. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 4:10.79; 6. Jaden Merrick (Cedar Falls), 4:15.04; 7. Tony Anania (Norwalk), 4:15.49; 8. Elias Arbuckle (Dallas Center-Grimes), 4:16.22.

1,600 relay — 1. Johnston (Grandon, King, Urness, Anglo), 3:15.98; 2. Des Moines East, 3:16.34; 3. Cedar Falls, 3:16.75; 4. Bettendorf, 3:18.34; 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 3:19.02; 6. Muscatine, 3:19.41; 7. Ankeny Centennial, 3:20.20; 8. Okoboji, 3:28.58.

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Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com