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Dodgers, area athletes prepare for Drake Relays

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge’s 4x100 Drake Relays team includes (left to right): Tyler Schreier, Aidan Simonson, Trey Mosley, Luke Jacobson and Brycen Bell.

DES MOINES — While the spring weather has been far from nice to athletes around the state, that hasn’t put a damper on those looking to make a statement at the Drake Relays this week.

A handful of Messenger-area qualifiers will attempt to do just that inside Drake Stadium when they compete with the best of the best.

North Union’s Riley Bauer, a two-time defending state cross country champion, has qualified in both the 800 and 1600 events, with Dominick Etherington of Algona and Cassidy Nerland from Webster City also making the shot put and discus fields.

Fort Dodge advanced in the boys 4×100 relay. Seniors Trey Mosley and Lucas Jacobson are joined by sophomore Brycen Bell and freshman Tyler Schreier.

Algona, while the Greene County and Webster City girls advanced in the same event.

Humboldt’s Bryce Gidel is in the 3000 field, with Megan Durbin of Greene County, Bailey Wollesen from East Sac County, and freshman standout Kiersten Fisher of Southeast Valley set to compete in the high jump.

North Union, Algona and South Central Calhoun are all entered in the distance medley relay competition for the boys.

Bauer has the fastest time this year in the 800 and sits eighth overall in the 1600, while Etherington is second in the shot put. Both are headed to South Dakota State University in the fall to continue their athletic careers.

Durbin, who signed with Iowa State University, comes in having cleared 5-8 earlier this year for the top seed, with Fisher tied for sixth and Wollesen tied for 10th.

Nerland, a Grand View University recruit, sits seventh in the discus and 11th in the shot put, while Gidel is 15th in the 3000.

High school events begin on Thursday and continue through Saturday afternoon.

DRAKE RELAYS

(Messenger-area qualifiers)

Boys

1600-meter run (Saturday/4:07 p.m.) — Riley Bauer, North Union.

800-meter run (Friday/2:13 p.m.) — Riley Bauer, North Union.

Shot put (Friday/8:30 a.m.) — Dominick Etherington, Algona.

Discus (Thursday/4 p.m.) — Dominick Etherington, Algona.

Distance medley relay (Friday/10:02 a.m.) — North Union, Algona, South Central Calhoun.

4×100-meter relay (Friday/6:29 p.m.) — Fort Dodge, Algona.

Girls

3000-meter run (Thursday/5:40 p.m.) — Bryce Gidel, Humboldt.

High jump (Thursday/4:30 p.m.) — Megan Durbin, Greene County; Bailey Wollesen, East Sac County; Kiersten Fisher, Southeast Valley.

Discus (Friday/9 a.m.) — Cassidy Nerland, Webster City.

Shot put (Thursday/4:30 p.m.) — Cassidy Nerland, Webster City.

4×100-meter relay (Friday/5:33 p.m.) — Greene County, Webster City.

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