| | 
The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, May 24, 2007
|
Kelly claims state title
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES — It’s been a roller-coaster spring for Anamosa junior track star Colten Kelly.
He’s battled knee injuries for weeks all while helping the Raider golf team to another solid season on the course as their No. 1 scorer as well as playing basketball games for his Iowa elite team in Des Moines.
But the wild ride got even wilder Thursday, May 17, as Kelly claimed Anamosa’s first state boys track championship since 1996 taking the top spot in the class 3A high jump at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Kelly who bested the entire 22-jumper field and became the first Raider boy to win a crown since Nick Weers blazed his way to a state title in the 400 meter hurdles 11 years ago.
|
State champion!
Anamosa junior Colten Kelly soars easily over 6’ 2” at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Thursday, May 17, on his way to claiming the class 3A state high jump title clearing the bar set at 6’ 7”. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“I came so close at state and Drake last year and so close again this year at Drake. I was almost starting to wonder if I would ever be able to finally finish on top. But I believed in myself that I could win this title this year. I love jumping in front of big crowds like we had here at state again this year and I think jumping against the best in the state just brings out the best in me too. I wasn’t going to settle for anything less than a title this time around.”
Kelly easily soared to the class 3A state high jump championship flying 6’ 7”, his best jump since early April, and topped runner-up Brian Fuller of Central DeWitt who flew 6’ 3”.
“This meet was mine to lose this year,” said Kelly. “Last year I came in as kind of the guy no one really knew and made a run at a state title. |
This year I had more of the pressure that last year I didn’t really have to deal with. People expected me to jump 6’ 7”, 6’ 8” and 6’ 9” all the time this year. I actually expected it out of myself too but I also had a lot of injuries that last year I didn’t have to deal with. Today though, I felt great and that’s all that matters.”
Kelly entered into the 3A state high jump event at 6’ 0” and after a quick miss at his opening height, quickly showed the rest of the field that state title was coming home to Anamosa.
“I wasn’t too concerned after that opening miss,” said Kelly. “I never want to miss, but those early one aren’t where the high jump is won or lost. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss after that though.”
Which is exactly what Kelly was able to accomplish running the table without a miss through the rest of the event which eventually came down to a battle with Fuller.
“He’s a good jumper and I knew I’d have to be at my best to beat him,” said Kelly. “Today, I was at my best.”
Kelly flew over the bar set at 6’ 2”, 6’ 3”, 6’ 5” and 6’ 7” on his first attempts and then after already easily having the state championship in hand, raised the bar to 6’ 10”.
“I wanted to top the 6’ 9” I had last year at state and I almost got there,” he said. “I still have a year to go too. Next year I want another state title along with a Drake Relays title and top 7’ 0”. really think if I’m healthy, I can do it.”
Kelly barely missed on his final two attempts at 6’ 10” having the bar cleared before nudging it with his feet on each try.
Of the 22 jumpers in the class 3A field, 20 cleared the opening height of 5’ 8” while 18 more made it past the 5’ 10” height.
It was there where Kelly separated himself from the pack as only 11 topped 6’ 0” and three 6’ 2”.
“For some reason I like this early morning jumping,” said Kelly as the event started at 9:00 a.m. with him waiting as half of the field dropped out before he even stepped onto the track.
“Everything is better in the morning. My knees felt great and that was another big reason for me jumping the way I did. If they had been hurting like they have for most of the season, I don’t know what might have happened.”
Kelly even admitted he had a case of the nerves coming into Drake Stadium.
“That never happens but today, I was really nervous for some reason,” he said. “It wasn’t like I’d never done this before or been here before. But at least I had some time to calm back down before I started jumping.”
Filling in for Anamosa head boys track coach Wes Wilson, who was with his wife Kelly as the two were expecting the arrival of their first child, assistant coach Jack Leighty held the reins of the program.
“I was just along for the ride too,” said Leighty. “It was history in the making. We knew he could do it. He’s been through a lot this year too and to have it end like this is just fitting. There was no doubt all season long he is the best high jumper in class 3A.” |
Saving the best for last
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES— Pushing himself to limits possibly even he may not have known he had in him, Anamosa senior Nate Vaughn inspired friends, fans, coaches and teammates with a memorable performance in an epic class 3A state 800 meter run at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Saturday, May 19.
“It was the final race of my high school career and I was prepared to leave everything out on the track,” said Vaughn who crossed the finish line with a phenomenal time of 1:59.79 which ranks as the best 800 meter clocking at Anamosa High School since Raider track superstar Brian Darrow accomplished the feat at state back in 1975.
“I expected I’d run my best-ever time at state, but I guess I never expected it to be as fast as it was. It just felt great. I wanted to go back out and run another 800. I just felt that good afterwards. It was an awesome feeling to finish like that.”
|
Kicking it in
Anamosa senior Nate Vaughn pushes hard during the final 50 meters of the state class 3A 800 meter race at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Saturday, May 19. Vaughn’s amazing kick at the end scored points for his Raider team as he finished sixth in the event. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Vaughn was in a pack of five runners looking for one of the top-4 spots in the race and the Anamosa superstar who all season long has been among the leaders, if not the leader in 800 meter events all over eastern Iowa, kicked harder at the end than just about everyone as he turned in a sixth-place state finish scoring team points for the Raiders.
“I could have done even better too,” he said. “I got caught behind a kid early in the race who never made a move and I had to take some extra time getting past him.”
Charles City’s Isaac Wendland topped the 3A 800 field with a 1:54.64 clocking, but the rest were in the hunt for second, including Vaughn who beamed with excitement after crossing the finish line.
“How fitting was that for Nate to go out with one of the best races any Anamosa 800 runner has seen in a long, long time,” said Anamosa boys track coach Wes Wilson who made the trip back to Des Moines just to watch Vaughn’s race after witnessing the birth of his daughter two days earlier. “Nate is a gamer. He’s going to fight and give it all he’s got and in his last race, he gets to take home a medal from the state meet. Something not too many people get to do, and he deserves it as much as anyone for the way he works.”
Vaughn also defeated Dubuque Wahlert’s Brian Koch (2:00.78), who had topped him at districts and who had the No. 2 time in the state coming into the race.
“This has been a great year, the best of my four years out for track,” said Vaughn. “I wanted to at least place and I did that and I wanted to run my best time and I did that too. I guess if I had to go out and end my track career, this is about the best I could have hoped for.”
Wilson was moved by Vaughn’s gutty effort.
“It was pretty special, one of those things I know I will never forget,” said Wilson. “I’m glad I made the trip back to see it happen. From a pure effort standpoint, it doesn’t get a whole lot better.” |
Olin’s Hansen scores again at state
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES — She’s been a regular at the state track meet each of the last two seasons.
Olin’s Kalli Hansen has already proven herself as among the elite class 1A high jumpers in the state of Iowa and Friday, May 18, she cemented her status yet again in front of a packed Drake Stadium crowd in Des Moines.
“My first couple of times here I was pretty nervous, but not so much this time,” said Hansen who has been red-hot soaring 5’ 3” at many of the late-season Lion girls track meets and came into the state meet as the No. 3 ranked jumper in the class after her 5’ 3” effort at districts in Goose Lake. “I really felt like I was at my best coming in and for whatever reason, it just didn’t come together for me today.”
Hansen soared 5’ 0” on a beautiful day in front of a sun-soaked crowd and the height scored her team points for the Lions.
|
Counting again
Olin’s Kalli Hansen proved herself one of the class 1A state high jump elite Friday, May 18, finished sixth and scoring points for the Lions in the event after clearing 5’ 0”. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
| “I know she was pretty disappointed going 5-feet,” said Olin girls track coach Galen Noard who experienced Iowa’s high school state meet for the first time. “But she still placed and should be proud of what she accomplished this year. She came on so strong at the end and was consistently jumping 5’ 2” and 5’ 3”. That’s pretty impressive right there and the good thing is, she’s only a junior and has one more shot to move up even higher.” |
Olin sprinters shine at state track
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES— They’ve already cemented their status at Olin as the best sprinters the school has ever seen.
Now, competing at the class 1A state meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Justin Lowinski, Justin Rix, Justin Smith and Mason Smith wanted something more. They wanted a state championship.
“That’s what we came here to win,” said Rix who with the threesome turned in a solid performance in the 4x100 race at state that left Lion boys track fans yearning for even more. “It’s been great breaking the school record in the 4x100 and 4x200 races all over the place this season, but we wanted to be running our best right here against the top runners in the state. I thought we did that too.”
When the group took to the track Friday, May 18, taking part in the class 1A 4x100 event, Lowinski, Rix, Justin Smith and Mason Smith gave fans a performance for the ages winning the fast heat on the fast Drake University blue track with another school record 44.77 clocking.
“I told the kids coming in that anything can happen at state. In the 4x100 any minor mistake is magnified and if we can make it through with four perfect hand-offs, we’ll be right there with a chance at the end,” said Olin boys track coach Rich Ginn. “That 4x100 prelim on Friday was something pretty special. No doubt about it.”
Lowinski blasted out of the blocks to start the race then handed off to Rix who made a perfect hand-off to Justin Smith.
“All the guys ran well,” said Ginn. “In this race, that’s what you need.”
Justin Smith gave way to brother Mason Smith who blazed the final 100 meters and crossed the finish line first in the school-record time. |
Once in a lifetime team
Olin’s Justin Lowinski gets set to hand the baton off to teammate Justin Rix in the 4x100 prelim in Des Moines Friday, May 18. The two, with Justin Smith and Mason Smith set yet another school record in the event blazing to a 44.77 winning clocking that advanced the group to the final Saturday, May 19, where they finished sixth overall in the state in class 1A. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“That was pretty cool,” said Mason Smith. “I could hear the announcer screaming our name as I was running and that just pumped me up even more.”
Seeded fifth in the 1A 4x100 final Saturday, May 19, the Lions turned in a 45.06 time and scored sixth-place points for the team.
“We didn’t run as well as the day before,” said Mason Smith. “But to place at state is still pretty good.”
Central Lyon won the 1A 4x100 state title posting a time of 44.22 in the final while Alta was second (44.33), Alburnett was third (44.34), West Hancock finished fourth (44.73) and WACO was fifth (45.03).
The Lions topped Nora Springs-Rock Falls (45.09) and Des Moines Christian (45.10).
The Lion team also qualified for state in the 4x200 race and went out well but were disqualified after a hand-off zone infraction.
“The 4x100 was the one the guys really wanted anyway,” said Ginn. “We made a mistake with a hand-off and at state they see everything. It also wasn’t one of our better races of the season either.”
Olin’s return to state was the first for the Lions since Josh Turner’s 400 meter dash effort four years ago.
“It’s been a great year,” said Ginn. “The kids and the parents have been great to work with all season long and just the interest in town about track was great to see too. This was a special group of guys who now have their place in history at this school.” |
Soaking up the state experience
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
DES MOINES — Getting better and better each and every time they ran the distance medley event this past spring, by the time Becca Loy, Christy Coons, Kayla Sanborn and Cammy Dole ran the event at the class 3A state level Friday, May 18, posting one of their best times of the campaign all of a sudden felt remarkably normal.
“Running under 4:30 earlier in the season the girls thought was so tough,” said Anamosa girls track coach Phil Kauder after his team tallied a time of 4:29.08 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. “When they ran a 4:35 at the Tipton meet earlier this season they thought that time was really fast. They found out a good distance medley at state goes under 4:20 and I was hopeful we’d run in the 4:22-4:23 area going into the state meet.”
The foursome placed 18th overall in class 3A with the clocking and were sixth in their heat topping Knoxville (4:31.74) and MOC Floyd-Valley (4:32.67).
“If we could have run a 4:22 we could have scored,” said Kauder.
“But we came in seeded 16th and finished 18th and stayed pretty consistent.”
Harlan claimed the class 3A distance medley state championship running a 4:08.63 to easily outdistance runner-up Decorah’s 4:14.64 clocking. |
The second turn
Anamosa junior Christy Coons makes a smooth exchange with freshman teammate Kayla Sanborn in the class 3A distance medley event at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Friday, May 18. The team with freshman Becca Loy and sophomore Cammy Dole tallied a time of 4:29.08. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Becca did a great job getting out of the blocks and ran a 28.3 split,” said Kauder. “Christy ran a smooth 28.3 and Kayla a smart 61.6. Cammy took off and looked good. She came around the first lap of her 800 leg with a 68.2 and I thought we were sitting perfect. About a 100 meters later the rest of the field was picking up the pace.”
Dole closed with a 2:30.88 split to bring the Raider team home.
“I felt like I let my teammates down,” she said. “I went out too fast and didn’t have anything left at the end when everyone else was making the push. I just had a hard time finishing and that’s not normally a problem for me.”
The Raiders topped Knoxville, MOC Floyd Valley, Winterset, Spencer, Neveda and Carroll in the final distance medley team standings.
“The girls learned a lot this season and so did the coaches,” said Kauder. “They improved and enjoyed competing as the season went on. But we have our work cut out for us going into the WaMaC next year and back to the state 3A meet. Across the state times and distances are getting better and faster. Benton Community has all of their 4x400 girls back led by a state champion in the 100 and 200 meters. I feel we are on ‘track’ to bring home some medals next year.”
Coons, Sanborn and Loy are all first-time state participants and enjoyed the entire experience of racing at track’s highest level.
“Not only is it awesome just to be here running in this stadium, but having all our fans come and support us really helped us perform too,” said Coons. “I had a good warm-up and a good hand-off with Kayla. I thought we all ran well.”
Sanborn agreed.
“It’s just fun to be here,” she said. “I was going for a time of 60-flat and almost got there. I felt I ran about as well as I could have too.”
The finish wrapped up what was an amazing 2007 season for the Anamosa girls in not only the distance medley, the crown jewel event for the Raider team all spring long, but various other events as well.
“If anything I probably under-coached this team the last two weeks,” said Kauder. “I did not want to take for granted getting to state so we rested up quite a bit the week of districts. That worked pretty good too having the distance medley, long jump and high jump all qualify for state. But then I should have worked them a little harder earlier in the week prior to state, but I didn’t.
What I also learned this year was that the girls have a lot of heart and guts and they really like to compete. Hopefully with what they accomplished this year and just getting to state and soaking up the whole experience will take the pressure off for next year.” |
PO
Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
Copyright
Anamosa Publications
Anamosa Journal-Eureka / Town Crier 2005
Thede Web
Works - Website
Questions
|