Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Humboldt's Kendal Clark competes in the discus on Thursday at the co-ed state track meet in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Lexi Wood was an inch away from competing at the state track meet in the shot put last year.

Wood, a Manson Northwest Webster sophomore, followed up her dominating throw at the district qualifier by placing sixth here in Class 1A Thursday at Drake Stadium.

“It just lit a fire in me to work hard this offseason,” Wood said. “Making it this year with a four-foot personal-record made me so excited for this state meet. Placing at state this year makes me want to work even harder and continue my growth as a thrower.”

Dunkerton senior Kaitlyn Wilder won the event with a throw of 40-8, with two other seniors and two juniors finishing ahead of Wood.

Wood hit her best mark on her first throw of the competition, following that up with three throws over 37 feet.

“There were many great competitors down here and they made the meet enjoyable in this blazing heat,” Wood said. “I want to thank my coaches Matt Pohlman, Theo Clark and Gary Balk for pushing me this season.”

The MNW 4×800 relay placed 12th in 10:28.50 behind Chloe Troshynski, Sophie Herzberg, Paige Condon and Bailey Kenyon.

Maddie Moline, also a sophomore, finished 20th in the 3000 in 12:22.38, as did Kenyon in the 400 (1:03.98).

Humboldt’s Bryce Gidel secured a state track medal to go along with her cross country honors, finishing fifth in the 3000 (10:49.04). Gidel, a junior, was ninth in the distance event last year.

“Coming in, my main focus was to stay calm and just run my race,” Gidel said. “The atmosphere at state is crazy and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I tried my best to just focus on what I had to accomplish and not worry about what the other girls were doing.

“I am happy with how I ended up, but not satisfied. I’m excited to get one more run (Friday) with my team.”

Kendal Clark, a sophomore for the Wildcats, was 15th in the discus (109-6).

Kiersten Fisher, who qualified in four individual events, advanced to the 100-meter dash finals by clocking the fastest prelim time in 2A at 12.66. She was also 12th in the 200 prelims.

Macy Sievers, Megan Morenz, Camryn Wilken and Bailey Sievers raced the Newell-Fonda 4×800 relay to a fourth place finish in 1A. The unit, which broke their own school-record, clocked a time of 10:08.11 and became the first N-F relay to score points and medal at state.

Algona’s Kam Etherington was 23rd in the discus (103-5) and Dionna VanGorkem finished 23rd in the 400 (1:05.61).

Jade Ridgely had a busy first day of her first state track meet, competing in three events for South Central Calhoun. Ridgely was 17th overall in the 400 (1:02.25), advanced to the 200-meter finals by placing eighth in prelims (26.5) and was 10th in the 100 prelims.

Kaylynn Ridgely, a junior, finished seventh overall in the long jump with a leap of 16-6.5.

Emmetsburg’s Annie Brennan placed 18th in the shot put (35-11.75) and the E-Hawk shuttle hurdle relay advanced to the finals by recording the second-best prelim time (1:07.82) thanks to Ali Laubenthal, Lindsay Carter, Brielle Madden and Hailey Foxhoven.

Bishop Garrigan’s 4×800 relay was 16th (10:38.93) with Katie Noonan, Emma Fogarty, Madelyn Cink and Maddie Meister.

Laurel Degen placed 17th in the 400 for the Golden Bears in 1:03.39.

Pocahontas Area’s Jessica Sump finished 18th in the long jump (16-0.25).