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Sullivan earns silver

DES MOINES — Kenzie Sullivan continued to add medals to the Pocahontas Area trophy case here Thursday, placing second in the discus at the 108th annual Drake Relays.

Sullivan, a senior who was part of both state basketball championship teams for the Indians over the past two winters, had a throw of 128-11 during the second round to secure silver.

Iowa City West’s Leah Dusterhoft won with a toss of 129-3, which came during the fifth round of throws. Dusterhoft, a senior who has signed with the University of South Dakota, took the early lead with a throw of 129-0 on her second attempt.

“It is such a great feeling and experience to throw with the best in the state,” Sullivan said. “And it is even better getting second by just four inches.”

Sullivan started the day with a throw of 116-5, which had her seventh. On her next attempt, she launched her best, following with a 121-5 in the third round.

After scratching in the fourth and fifth, Sullivan tried to unseat Dusterhoft with her final throw. That came up short at 127-8.

“I honestly think that I can do so much better than I did in competition (Thursday),” Sullivan said. “I have other goals that I want to achieve that will keep me moving forward.”

North Scott’s Kayla Slowick was third and Don Bosco’s Alyssa Corkery fourth, with both throwing over 127 feet.

Last year, Sullivan placed second at state in the discus with a throw of 131-7 to KP-WC’s Kiana Phelps, who is now on the Oregon track team. Phelps set a state record with a throw of 172-1.

Sullivan has signed with NCAA Div. II Wayne State College in Nebraska to continue her track and field career. She has qualified in both the shot put and discus each of the past three seasons for state, placing sixth in the shot put as a freshman.

Cassidy Nerland of Webster City also competed in the discus. The junior had a two throws of 114-1 in the first flight, placing her 12th overall. Her first toss was 110-7.

Algona’s Dominick Etherington finished 21st in the shot put, as the Bulldog had a throw of 49-2.75. That came on his first attempt out of the opening flight, as he followed with a foul and a 48-3.5 to complete his Drake experience.

The event featured a first, as four different boys had tosses over 60 feet. Mount Vernon’s Tristan Wirfs was the winner with a throw of 66-35. Five of his six attempts were at least 61 feet.

Jared Brinkman of Iowa City Regina, William Blaser of Western Dubuque and Nick Phelps of KP-WC all went over 60 feet.

Humboldt’s Bryce Gidel competed in the 3000 for the Wildcats, placing 14th overall. Gidel, a freshman, was 18th after the opening 600 before moving her way up the field.

Gidel finished in 10:34.27, including a 1:20.19 final 400 meters. Mid Prairie’s Anna Hostetler was the winner in 9:51.08, leading the entire race.

Set to compete on Friday in events are Sullivan, Nerland and Manson Northwest Webster’s Becca Krueger in the shot put; Fort Dodge’s Shariah Smith and South Central Calhoun’s Allison Birks and Kody Casey in the 100 prelims; Kaylee Shivers of Pocahontas Area in the high jump; the Dodgers, Bulldogs and Lynx in the girls 4×100 prelims; and Fort Dodge and Webster City in the boys 4×100 prelims.

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