Four school records fall to Raiders at State
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Another State Track Meet wrapped up Saturday afternoon with the Mount Ayr Raiders placing 11th out of 96 schools in class 2A.
Five of the seven relays that competed broke school records at the state qualifier, prelims and state finals.
The Raiders did not just compete against other athletes, they also battled the weather. It was a scorcher on Thursday, reaching temps in the 90s while Friday we saw rain and 60 degree temperatures.
On Thursday, the Raiders ran the 4×800 with Chase Smith, Isaac Timmerman, Trae Ehlen and Nathan Hauge. They ran an 8:29.37 to place 18th overall and placed eighth on the MACS All-Time Top 10.
“It was pretty hot out today but I think we pushed through it together really well,” said Isaac Timmerman. “For not really training in these conditions we came out here and ran a new best time.”
The shuttle hurdle relay placed 15th to close out the morning session on Thursday. Kolben Klommhaus, Briar Knapp, Dawson Frost and Keelan Klommhaus ran a 1:03.69, but were unable to qualify for finals on Saturday.
On Friday, the skies opened and rain poured onto Drake Stadium.
Despite the rain, the Raiders set two school records and moved into the Top 10 list.
First on the track was the 4×200. The Raider team of Connor Eaton, Payton Weehler, Hunter Haveman and Hunter Arends placed fourth with a time of 1:31.14.
In the distance medley, the Raider team of Payton Weehler, Seth Shelman, Dawson Frost and Isaac Timmerman placed 17th with a time of 3:45.18.
With the 4×100, the Raiders set a new school record, running a 44.51 and qualified for the finals on Saturday.
Closing Friday, the Raider 4×400 ran a 3:27.14 to place fourth on the MACS All-Time Top 10 list and qualified for finals on Saturday.
Saturday was a cool, cloud covered day with the 800 meter medley taking the track first.
Payton Weehler, Connor Eaton, Hunter Haveman and Hunter Arends set a new school record as they placed fourth overall with a time of 1:35.81.
The 4×100 team of Connor Eaton, Seth Shelman, Hunter Arends and Hunter Haveman set a new school record after placing sixth with a time of 44.15, which broke the record they set the day before, but also broke the record from the 2014 State Championship relay team of Grant Staats, Jacob Sobotka, Lincoln Martin and Cody Stackhouse.
“I did all I could and had a good handoff with Seth,” said Connor Eaton. “It was a lot better than running the 4×200 earlier.”
“I knew it was a little wet coming in so I had to adjust my steps a little bit,” said Hunter Arends. “I knew if I could get up with them I could give Hunter a shot.”
The 4×400 team of Hunter Arends, Payton Weehler, Connor Eaton and Hunter Haveman placed second overall with a time of 3:23.66 which set another school record which was also previously held by the 2014 State Championship team of Kyle Dolecheck, Noah Larsen, Erik Freed and Jacob Sobotka.
“I knew I had to get a lead Dike was coming in fast. We changed up the order to give Hunter a little lead but they were going fast,” said Hunter Arends. “It was good, I knew it was going to be my last race ever so it’s a little emotional.”
“We have good chemistry, we are real close, we are like a family,” said Hunter Haveman. “It works well for us and I think that’s a big part of our success in all of our relays.
