Diercks claims third State title; Strong performances all around

Chandler Diercks earned his third State title in the long jump and his Clear Lake teammates turned in a number of strong performances at the Iowa Boys and Girls State Track meet held Thursday through Saturday in Des Moines.

  Clear Lake Coach A.J. Feuerbach said he was thrilled to get eight events and 10 kids back to State for the second year in a row  It was the first time the Lions have qualified four relays for State since 1992.

Diercks, who captured his second Drake Relays long jump title in April,  became just the fifth person in state meet history to win the long jump event three times.  His leap of 23’ 3.25” was .75” better than West Burlington’s Xavior Williams and the rest of the Class 2A field. Diercks was second in the event his freshmen year and won the 3A long jump as a sophomore and junior.  This year Clear Lake dropped to Class 2A.

Diercks was also part of three Lion relays which competed at State. Zach Tatum, Cooper Merrill and Makean Bang teamed with Diercks for the 4x100 and 4x200.  The 4x100 team finished 14th in 44.47.  The Lions were disqualified in the 4x200.

The Distance Medley Relay with Tatum, Diercks, Dustin King and Chase Lester was 14th in 3:40.70.

Merrill, a junior, also competed as an individual, qualifying in the 100 meters.  He was 23rd in 11.64.

Clear Lake’s shuttle hurdle team of Parker Truesdell, Parker Crispin, Alex Vander Ploeg and Chase Bacon was 11th in 1:00.61.  The group will be looking to return to State next year, with Vander Ploeg being the only senior on the relay.

Crispin, a sophomore, also ran the 110 hurdles and was 21st in 15.90.

Vander Ploeg, a senior, cleared 6’1” in the high jump to place 19th.

“I just want to say how proud I am of our kids and their performances throughout the year,” said Feuerbach.  “All I ask is for them to work hard and keep getting better. We peaked at the end and that is awesome.  The seniors on this team were phenomenal, taking this program to where we are now-- Makean (Bang), Alex (Vander Ploeg), Brock (Adams), Dustin (King), and them all.   I am so proud of Chandler and all of his State titles and Drake titles.  He is a fine young man first and a phenomenal track athlete second.  I wish him all the success he can get at Iowa State.  I really appreciate all of the support from our community and parents and school.  Clear Lake track thanks them all.  We look forward to our future.”

Jones 

impresses

Just one Clear Lake girl participated in the State Track Meet this year.  Lexi Jones, a freshman, is likely to make several return trips to Des Moines in the years to come.  Jones competed in the long jump, an event she just started midseason, as well as the high jump.

“What a neat experience for a freshman to be a part of,” said Clear Lake Coach Shawn Puttmann.  “Both Coach Scarrow and I see a lot of potential in Lexi and the future of Clear Lake girls track.”

Jones had a mark of 15’ 5.25” to place 10th in the long jump and cleared 4’10” in the high jump to finish 14th.