By Giovanni Coronel
DES MOINES
One final performance at the Drake Relays awaited Mid-Prairie senior Jayden Stafford last Friday and in one of the toughest races of his career it was one of the best performances of his career.
Showing the determination and fortitude needed to be a three-time Drake Relays Champion, Stafford finished with his fastest time ever (1:03.22) in the 400m wheelchair race to earn his third straight Drake Relays title.
“I can say this was all me, but it wasn’t,” Stafford told KCRG after winning his third Drake title. “It was the amount of support I had that was the reason I had the success that I did. It was more 60/40, I had 60 percent family and 40 percent of it was what I did.”
Not resting on his laurels, Stafford has been part of track and field since his freshman year, and he continues to push himself to keep improving and his latest race at the Blue Oval is a testament to all the hard work he’s put in over the year.
“I’m feeling a lot of emotions, that was definitely one I had to work for if I wanted to win,” Stafford said. “It’s my senior year. This is the last time I’m going to compete at the Drake Relays for track and field. I’m leaving this behind and it’s awesome to end on a highlight.”
Crossing the finish line after Stafford, who will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater after graduation to play basketball and major in Sport Management, was Titus Steng of Shenandoah who was the runner-up in 1:04.57.
Other Golden Hawks to compete in individual events at Drake were Dessa Poll, Burke Berry, and Jeorgia Evans.
Evans battled it out in the 100m and the long jump. With her third leap traveling the farthest, Evans placed 22nd in the long jump with a leap of 15-6.25
Evans placed eighth (12.33) in the 100m prelims to advance to the finals and in the finals, she once again placed eight but with a faster time of 12.31.
Both Poll and Berry took part in field events with Berry placing 12th in the shot put with a throw of 53-00.25 and Poll placing 16th in the discus throw with a toss of 119-03.
Mid-Prairie also had two relay teams compete with the boys team of Kaden Kos, Kendrick Kos, Nolan Jergens, and Ryan Henry placing 50th (44.06) in the 4x100m and the girls team of Jeorgia Evans, Tessa Bombei, Myil Hershberger, and Jovi Evans) placing 24th (50.13) in the 4x100m.
Hillcrest results
Adding another accolade to his already impressive season, standout junior Owen Scott made his Drake Relays debut last Thursday.
Battling a field of 24, Scott marked his best leap on his third attempt and ultimately placed 11th with a jump of 21-1.50. First place was claimed by Miciah LeLaCheur of Valley West Des Moines who won the title with a jump of 22-10/
It was an impressive performance for Scott who is currently the number one ranked long jumper in Class 1A by reaching a personal best jump of 22-6.50 earlier this season.
Lone Tree results
Representing Lone Tree at the Drake Relays last Saturday was the Lady Lion relay team of Addison McCullough, Ava Christofferson, Vivian Zaruba, and Rylee Shield.
This Lone Tree quartet competed in the girls 4x100m relay, and they finished with their second fastest time of the season (51.73) to place 79th. Out of Class 1A teams, the Lady Lions placed fourth overall and they finished seven spots better than their seed.
The relay title was won by Waukee Northwest who finished with a first-place time of 47.65.
Drake Relays results
Girls discus throw;
1, Delilah Subsin, Ottumwa, 156-9; 16, Dessa Poll, Mid-Prairie, 119-03
Boys shot put;
1, Landon Prince, CCA, 61-10.75; 12, Burke Berry, Mid-Prairie, 53-00.25
Girls long jump;
1, Reese Brownlee, Clear Lake, 18-10; 22, Jeorgia Evans, Mid-Prairie, 15-6.25
Boys long jump;
1, Miciah LeLaCheur, Valley West Des Moines, 22-10; 11, Owen Scott, Hillcrest, 21-1.50
Girls 100m;
1, Kelly Grobstich, Assumption Davenport, 11.82; 8, Jeorgia Evans, Mid-Prairie, 12.31
400m wheelchair;
1, Jayden Stafford, Mid-Prairie, 1:03.22
Girls 4x100m relay;
1, Waukee Northwest, 47.42; 24, Mid-Prairie (Jeorgia Evans, Tessa Bombei, Myli Hershberger, Jovi Evans), 50.13; 79, Lone Tree (Addison McCullough, Ava Christofferson, Vivian Zaruba, Rylee Shield), 51.73
Boys 4x100m relay;
1, Ankeny, 42.09; 50, Mid-Prairie (Kaden Kos, Kendrick Kos, Nolan Jergens, Ryan Henry), 44.06