HOMETOWN PRIDE
Dodgers, Gaels get a chance to compete on own track

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Car’Maiya Mosley of Fort Dodge takes the lead in the 100-meter dash on Thursday during the Dodger Relays. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net
It was far from ideal conditions, but the 38th annual Dodger Relays were completed in full here Thursday night.
After weather forced an early end to the boys event earlier this year, Fort Dodge was able to showcase its new track surface as temperatures dropped throughout.
Waukee scored another team title, racking up 161 points. Ankeny Centennial was second, with Humboldt finishing just a point back in third.
Union, the host Dodgers, St. Edmond and Mason City rounded out the field.
Senior Car’Maiya Mosley had a strong night to lead Fort Dodge, winning the shot put and finishing second in the 100. Mosley had a toss of 38-4 to capture the shot put, while she went 13.05 in the 100.
“Car’Maiya had a great night,” FDSH head coach Todd Constable said. “She really came out and performed like someone wanting to have a big home meet. It was just great to see.”
Constable was hoping that Mosley would get into the Drake Relays with her throw. Those official entries will be announced soon, as Thursday was the final date to qualify.
“She had a throw over 40 that she scratched on,” Constable said. “I think she might be just inches short, but she gave it her all.”
Shareece Smith was third in the 200 (27.67), while the Dodgers had runner-up showings in the 4×100 (53.17) and 4×200 (1:51.81). Maggie Harvey, Daphne Alstott, Smith and Mosley comprised both relays.
“Maggie had a really good night with some strong splits,” Constable said. ”
Union won the 4×100 in 52.43 and Ankeny Centennial the 4×200 in 1:48.57.
Fort Dodge was without senior Shariah Smith, who missed the meet due to a hamstring injury.
“With the weather not being ideal and the hamstring issue, we felt that it just wasn’t worth it to have Shariah run,” Constable said. “I’ve got to do a better job of watching how much I run her during a meet.”
For the Gaels, Erin Flattery broke the school record in the long jump with a leap of 16-6.75. She placed second in the event behind Union’s Kaitlin Holschlag (16-7).
Flattery broke the record set in 1984 by Chris Mueller. Mueller had a jump of 16-2.
“My main worry going in was getting my steps to line up with the board,” Flattery admitted. “I had no intention of actually breaking a record. I had hoped that eventually I might break the record, but I didn’t expect anytime soon (to do it).”
Coming in Flattery’s personal-best was 15-7. The sophomore only started doing the long jump this spring.
Abby Landwehr was second in the 1500 with a time of 5:18.69, fourth in the 3000 (11:20.53) and seventh in the 800.
“I told the girls to not be afraid to compete (against the Class 4A and 3A teams),” SEHS head coach Liz Crimmins said. “We went out there and chased after girls and that helped us have some really good times.”
Megan Flattery was sixth in the 800 and was joined by Erin Flattery, Devyn Scott and Landwehr on the runner-up distance medley unit (4:37.58).
“Our distance medley dropped a bunch of seconds,” Crimmins said. “I think we are at the point of the season where things are starting to get settled in.”
The Wildcats had top showings from Beth Duffield (400, 1:02.65), Bryce Gidel (1500, 5:13.41; 3000, 10:47.06), Rachel Darling (discus, 97-3), the 4×400 relay (4:21.01), 4×800 relay (10:18.30) and distance medley (4:30.76).
Olivia Hildreth, Duffield, Kate Curran and Gabby Kent comprised the 4×400, while Hildreth, Lauren Erickson, Duffield and Curran running the 4×800. The distance medley was Carlie Thompson, Darling, Hildreth and Kent.
Trinity Helmer was second in the high jump, clearing 4-10.
Adding third place finishes for Humboldt were Gidel (400), Curran (800), Mady Lange (400 hurdles) and Claire Varangkounh (long jump). Halie George placed fourth in the shot put.
Fort Dodge had second place showings in the junior varsity portion of the relays from Jada Presswood (100) and the 4×200 relay of KeiMara Roby, Kyanna Kirk, Shania Al-Hameed-Foy and Ashley Gully.
“Since we were the host, we were able to put more girls in JV events,” Constable said. “That’s always so important because it gives them a chance to compete.”