Messenger photo by Britt Kudla TJ Schnurr of Bishop Garrigan takes second in the 1A shot put on Thursday at the state track meet in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — TJ Schnurr wanted to cap his Bishop Garrigan career off in style on Thursday at the state track meet.

It just didn’t quite happen.

Schnurr finished second in the Class 1A shot put with a throw of 53-0.50, as Lawton-Bronson’s Zach Verzani won at 54-3.25. Alex Mammen, a BGHS teammate, was sixth in the event.

“Overall, I’m disappointed in my throws,” Schnurr said. “I knew I had more in me, but just couldn’t pop one off. Kudos to Zach (for his performance).

“I’m throwing good and I had a chance, but just didn’t throw my best.”

Schnurr, who helped get Bishop Garrigan to the football and basketball playoffs this year, set a new school-record at 55-4 earlier this spring. He was the only 1A thrower to surpass 55 feet on the season.

Mammen, who almost didn’t go out for track due to a prior shoulder injury, won the first flight. His second throw of the day was his best at 49.4.25.

“It means a lot to medal at state,” said Mammen, a junior. “I’m really happy that I went out. TJ and I had a lot of fun and I’m really excited for next year.”

Bishop Garrigan’s 4×800 relay of John Meis, Tristan Ferguson, Brad Capesius and Joseph Meis finished 17th in 8:42.12.

Spencer Moon got South Central Calhoun off to a good start in the race to a team title in 2A, placing fourth in the 3200.

Moon, a senior, finished in 9:49.58. The race was won by Garner-Hayfield/Ventura’s Reese Smith, who broke the state record with a time of 9:11.33.

“It’s great starting off with a medal,” Moon said. “I think this year is so different from last year because we are wanting to do really good as a team. I was really running for them instead of myself and I think that’s why I did so well.

“I’m really happy that I got Top-4 and I’m hoping to go up from there.”

The SCC shuttle hurdle relay of Mason Merkley, Cole Corey, Ayden Toms and Josh Van Hulzen advanced to the finals after placing fifth in prelims (1:01.35).

Humboldt’s Matt Miller clocked a personal-best 49.88 to garner fifth in the 3A 400. The Top-3 finishers all came out of Miller’s heat, including champion Jorma Schwedler of Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

“There were a lot of great competitors out there in that race that don’t like people in front of them just as much as I do,” Miller said. “It was really fun to have all those guys pushing me to finally get under 50.

“It means a lot to earn another medal at state. It was even more rewarding putting in all the work in one of my favorite races and getting it done to round out a great year.”

The Wildcat 4×800 of Calvin Carlson, Joseph Kunert, Noah Helmer and Eric Wittrock finished 11th overall and won their heat in a time of 8;15.26.

Cade Henrickson secured a medal in the 2A 400, finishing eighth in 51.23 for Pocahontas Area. The junior won the first heat of the event.

Trey Oehlertz, Chris Meyer, Mike Vonnahme and Jamison Frerk were 14th in the 4×800 (8:27.27).

Eagle Grove’s DerrickLee Harms placed 10th in the 400. The sophomore was second in the opening heat, going 51.71.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows’ Isaac Davis finished 11th in the 400 (51.75) and Ryan Watne was 13th in the shot put (48-3.25). Nick Schany from Emmetsburg placed 21st in the shot put (45-10).

RJ Rojas of Newell-Fonda was 19th in the shot put (43-8.75) and Edwin Rosas placed 24th in the 400 (53.93).

Sammonte Bawden of Algona advanced to both the 100 and 200 finals, with teammate Wyatt Wegener joining him in the 100.

Bawden posted the second-fastest 100 time at 10.93 and went 22.67 in the 200. Wegener had the fifth-best 100 at 11.27.