Area well represented at Drake Relays

The area was well represented at the Drake Relays last week, with both Clear Lake and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura athletes bringing home medals.

 Clear Lake’s Chandler Diercks won the high school long jump title at the Drake Relays Thursday. The junior’s leap of 23’ 10” topped his own school record, which he set earlier in the week at the Lions Relays.

 Diercks’ jump on Thursday was just one and three-quarters of an inch shy of the Drake Relays record of 23’ 11.75” inches set by Chris Walker of Davenport West in 1984. 
 Clear Lake’s Connor Nosbisch and the Lions’ 4x100 relay also competed at the blue oval.
 Nosbisch finished 26th in the field of 32 competitors from all classes running the 100 meter hurdles. He ran the race in 15.65.
 The 4x100 team of Zach Tatum, Jake Harle, MaKean Bang and Diercks placed 24th among the field of 80 teams. The group was clocked in their fastest time of the season, 44.10. Waukee won the race in 42.42.
 GHV’s Emily Mathews and Dasi Larson proved why GHV has such a strong girls track team this season.
 Larson, who competed in the shot put, placed second at the prestigious competition with a throw of 42’2.5”.
 Mathews raced her way to a fifth place finish in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.36, breaking her own school record.
 “I am very proud of Dasi for getting second in the shot and for Emily to not only make the finals, but for also breaking her own record again,” said Coach Dyan Childress.