-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Martyne Lowrey (left) hands off the baton to Tory Bennett during Dodgers Relays on Thurday

Steady progress is the name of the game for track teams working their way toward the April finish line.

Fort Dodge girls head coach Todd Constable continues to see positive signs from his Dodgers, who placed fourth in the 40th running of the Dodger Relays on a brisk evening Thursday.

Powerhouse Waukee — competing with half of its roster at a meet in Iowa City — stormed its way to the team title with 206 points. Humboldt was second with 154, followed by Mason City (76), FDSH (74) and Manson Northwest Webster (67).

The rest of the Warriors were victorious yesterday at City High as well.

The Dodgers picked up a gold medal in the sprint medley relay event, with their precocious group of sophomore Tristin Doster and freshmen Martyne Lowrey, Tory Bennett and Aleaha Pommer clocking a time of 1:58.51.

“I thought we competed hard,” Constable said. “The sprint med did a great job, and we saw some strong splits from a lot of our runners: Aleaha, Tristin, Martyne, Haley Wills and some others.

“Track is a grind, and it’s the time of the year where you start to gear up for districts and state. You just have to keep making strides every day and pace yourself, especially when you’re as young as we are. We’re still learning a lot about ourselves as a team.”

Fort Dodge was caught from behind by the Mohawks in the final two races. Mason City scored 18 combined points in the 4×100 and 4×400 to erase an eight-point deficit and clip the Dodgers for third place.

The Wildcats captured five event titles, as Bryce Gidel took the 3000-meter run (11:07.25), Paige DeWinter crossed first in the 200-meter dash (27.76), and Kendal Clark won the discus (120-4.5). The shuttle hurdle relay quartet of Jori Hajek, Claire Varangkounh, Kailee Dettmann and Lily Groat was victorious in 1:09.95, and the distance medley relay team of Mady Lange, Cecelia Hansen, Kirstyn Beaman and Gidel prevailed in 4:41.44.

Humboldt also produced runner-up showings by Kailee Dettmann in the high jump (5-1), Deni McDaniel in the discus (102-3.5), and the 4×100 team of Carlie Thompson, Morgan Olson, Hajek and Varangkounh (54.13).

The Cougars received a first-place effort from Jayne Wiese in the high jump (5-1). Teammate Lexi Wood earned second in the shot put (33-11.5), as did MNW’s quartet of Chloe Troshynski, Madalyn Moline, Samantha Ruhland and Wiese in the 4×800 (11:13.22).

Sophie Herzberg, Gabbie Herzberg, Paige Condon and Bailey Kenyon teammed to grab silver in the distance medley (4:44.58).

Constable noted the efficiency of the meet, which did include only five programs but wrapped up in less than three full hours.

“We’re so lucky to have this kind of support from our workers and volunteers,” Constable said. “It’s really amazing to see them in action. We have a lot of people who love the sport and stay loyal to this community. That’s more and more rare in this day and age.

“They know what they’re doing and they have a passion for making sure all the details are taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible. They help to make all of the Dodger Relays (boys and girls varsity and middle school) a first-class event.”

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Waukee, 206; 2. Humboldt, 154; 3. Mason City, 76; 4. Fort Dodge, 74; 5. Manson Northwest Webster, 67.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

High jump — 1. Jayne Wiese, Manson Northwest Webster; 2. Kailee Dettmann, Humboldt; 3. Aubrey Mahoney, Waukee; 5-1.

Shot put — 1. Grace Tobin, Mason City; 2. Lexi Wood, Manson Northwest Webster; 3. Alex Buscher, Waukee; 36-3.

Long jump — 1. Hannah Thomas, Mason City; 2. Lydia Bettis, Waukee; 3. Jori Hajek, Humboldt; 16-3.5.

Discus — 1. Kendal Clark, Humboldt; 2. Deni McDaniel, Humboldt; 3. Justine Pritchard, Waukee; 120-4.5.

Sprint medley relay — 1. Fort Dodge; 2. Waukee; 3. Humboldt; 1:58.51.

4×800-meter relay — 1. Waukee; 2. Manson Northwest Webster; 3. Fort Dodge; 10:33.97.

3000-meter run — 1. Bryce Gidel, Humboldt; 2. Margaux Basart, Waukee; 3. Molly Statton, Waukee; 11:07.25.

4×800-meter relay — 1. Waukee; 2. Manson Northwest Webster; 3. Fort Dodge; 10:33.97.

Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. Humboldt; 2. Waukee; 3. Fort Dodge; 1:09.95.

100-meter dash — 1. Nienke van Aalst, Mason City; 2. Grace Porter, Waukee; 3. Carlie Thompson, Humboldt; 13.16.

Distance medley relay — 1. Humboldt; 2. Manson Northwest Webster; 3. Waukee; 4:41.44.

400-meter dash — 1. Aviella Holtz, Waukee; 2. Kelby Tielbur, Waukee; 3. Claire Varangkounh, Humboldt; 1:07.86.

4×200-meter relay — 1. Mason City; 2. Waukee; 3. Fort Dodge; 1:49.51.

100-meter hurdles — 1. Camryn Weers, Waukee; 2. Abby Vogel, Waukee; 3. Lily Groat, Humboldt; 16.45.

800-meter run — 1. Kariin Roush, Waukee; 2. Ally Schaffer, Waukee; 3. Madalyn Moline, Manson Northwest Webster; 2:38.31.

200-meter dash — 1. Paige DeWinter, Humboldt; 2. Grace Porter, Waukee; 3. Tessa Widen, Fort Dodge; 27.76.

400-meter hurdles — 1. Mallory Drake, Waukee; 2. Hannah Thomas, Mason City; 3. Kaitlyn Groetken, Waukee, 1:09.28.

1500-meter run — 1. Margaux Basart, Waukee; 2. Ava Carder, Waukee; 3. Elizabeth Hildreth, Humboldt; 5:32.52.

4×100-meter relay — 1. Mason City; 2. Humboldt; 3. Fort Dodge; 53.67.

4×400-meter relay — 1. Waukee; 2. Mason City; 3. Humboldt; 4:27.32.