Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Newell-Fonda teammates Camryn Wilken (right) and Bailey Sievers run during a relay at the state track meet in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — For many, Friday was an extra-long day at the state track and field meet.

That was definitely the case for Newell-Fonda’s Bailey Sievers, Macy Sievers and Maggie Walker.

All three Mustang runners ran on the third-place distance medley relay in the first event of the afternoon session inside Drake Stadium, and later returned for the final Class 1A race by qualifying for Saturday’s 4×400 finals.

“It was an awesome feeling winning our heat and getting a third place medal,” Bailey Sievers said. “(Friday) went really well overall. I’m so excited to see what (Saturday) brings.”

Macy Sievers, Emma Stewart, Walker and Bailey Sievers went 4:20.52 to win the second heat, finishing only behind Lansing Kee and Tripoli.

Olivia Larsen subbed in for Stewart on the 4×400 that went 4:12.55 to win the third heat and advance to the finals.

Both Olivia Larsen and Ella Larsen competed in the 400 hurdles, with Olivia finishing 19th in 1:12.04 and Ella placing 21st in 1:12.27.

Pocahontas Area’s Kaylee Shivers scored a state medal in the 2A high jump, clearing 5-foot-4. The Top-6 jumpers all went out at that height.

The 4×200 of Jessica Sump, Shivers, Puritie Smith and Sarah Powers placed 12th for the Indians in 1:49.87.

West Bend-Mallard’s 4×400 relay advanced to the finals with the fifth-best prelim time (4:10.57). That quartet includes Briley Banwart, Monika Fehr, Isabell Gehrt and 400 winner Rachel Fehr.

Molly Schany of Emmetsburg picked up a medal in the 2A discus, earning eighth with a throw of 117-7. The E-Hawk distance medley relay of Hailey Foxhoven, Abbie Schany, Delaney Joyce and Taylor Steinkamp was ninth in 4:19.34.

Sam Nielsen from North Union was eighth in the 1A high jump (5-0), with Kendall Leinemann from Clarion-Goldfield/Dows placing 17th in the 400 hurdles (1:09.83).

Algona’s Kam Etherington was 19th in the 3A shot put (34-1.75), Lily Groat of Humboldt placed 19th in the 3A 400 hurdles (1:10.60) and Webster City’s Ashlyn Hay was 20th in the long jump (14-11.5).