—Messenger file photo The St. Edmond boys track team celebrates in Des Moines after winning the 2011 state championship. The Gaels won five events and it was their second state title in a three year stretch.

Members of St. Edmond’s 2011 and 2009 state championship teams banter once and a while which team was better, but the simple fact is both were part of a Gael dynasty on the track inside the blue oval of Drake Stadium.

“Both of those teams had a lot of talent, which would be an understatement,” said 2012 St. Edmond graduate Nate Kolacia. “We had a 10 year or so period where we won every district title (eight straight from (2005 to 2012). I think the 2011 team ended up being the best of them all, although 2009 would certainly contest that. The 2009 team set multiple new school records en route to their title. That was my freshman year and I was incredibly fortunate to attend that year’s state meet as the second shuttle hurdle relay alternate. At that time I had no idea how much track would mean to me.

“Neil Flattery had to convince me to even go out as I thought running wasn’t fun and I spent that year as just another guy on the team. It’s funny how something as little as that can change your life forever and I have Neil to thank for that.”

For seven straight seasons the St. Edmond boys track team put together memorable runs on the track from 2006 to 2012, capped off with a state championship (2011) and runner up showing.

“I think one of the reasons why the 2011 and 2012 squads were so competitive was a result of the bar that had been set by the teams that had come before us,” Flattery said. “The 2009 team, in particular, had probably six guys that could run around 2:00 or less in the 800 and around eight guys that could go 52 or less in the 400.

“When 2011 and 2012 came around, these sort of times had already been set as the baseline of what were acceptable times for us in those events if we wanted to be successful.”

During that period the Gaels won two state crowns with two silver medal teams and a third place showing. They won 10 state relay titles and had five individual champions to add to the trophy haul.

“Overall, that is a special group of guys who I have a special bond with forever,” Kolacia said. “We ran most of our workouts around a square block with no set distance and estimated times at St. Edmond’s old nearly gravel track.

“It made us learn how to grit, how to pace ourselves, and how to compete.”

Heading into the 2011 campaign, the Gaels knew they were loaded and had a shot at winning a state crown.

“Throughout the 2011 season we thought we had a chance, but we knew we’d really have to win some titles or place second to have a shot,” Kolacia said. “Normally, the best route to winning big meets is having a lot of good sprinters who can also jump or hurdle. For whatever reason, St. Edmond had a long stretch of having great 200, 400 and 800 runners and that was our main route to getting points and then supplementing that with other events.

“We were putting up some good times, but nothing quite like what we needed. We knew our 4×400 would have a great shot at winning and we had Neil who could win a couple of individual titles, but we’d have to come through in other events to pull out a title. Fortunately for us, our coaches had us always peak at the state meet.”

After winning the state title in 2009, the Gaels finished fourth (2010), but followed that with five event wins and a championship in 2011 and a runner up showing in 2012.

“What made those two teams (2011 and 2012) successful was that we had a good core of guys that took track seriously and bought into it,” Flattery said. “It was a lot of fun being a part of that team (2009). I remember watching them make a run in the football playoffs in the fall then make the state tournament in basketball that winter, so it was a great experience to join the track team in the spring, as a freshman, and be able to contribute to their success that year.

“Regarding the state meet, I was very fortunate that year to get the opportunity to run the mile at districts and qualify in that event for state. Rex Rodenborn was a senior that year and voluntarily gave up his spot on the mile at districts to give me that opportunity, which is a remarkable gesture for a senior to do for a freshman. I am very grateful that he did that for me because I would not have gotten the chance to compete at the state meet that year had that not been the case.”

In 2011, the Gaels won the distance medley and 4×800. Flattery claimed gold in the 400 and 800, while Kolacia won the 1600.

“The 4×800 was an event we needed to win or at least get second for us to have a shot,” Kolacia said. “Fortunately, things went about as well as you could ask, particularly Neil’s split, and we broke yet another seemingly untouchable 2009 school record in a time of 7:56. That was when we knew we could do what 2009 did.

“That’s probably the greatest high I’ve ever had (4×800) and the state title I remember most fondly.”

The only duplication for the 2009 and 2011 teams were titles in the 4×800. The ’11 championship team won the distance medley that the 2012 squad mirrored.

Jordan Arnold (senior) opened the 4×800, followed by Kolacia (junior) and Thomas Kesten (senior). Flattery ran the final leg as the Gaels won by more than three seconds.

Aaron McElroy (sophomore), Jeff Fosbender (senior), Kesten and Kolacia took home gold in the distance medley.

The Gaels streak of four straight 4×400 titles (2007 to 2010) ended with a runner up showing. They went back-to-back in the 4×200 in 2008 and 2009.

After Flattery claimed gold on the final day in the 800, St. Edmond knew the team title was theirs.

“On (Saturday), Neil wins the 800 and I ended up winning the 1600 to cement the title. It was cool to put the final nail in the coffin,” Kolacia said. “Our 4×400 ended up finishing a disappointing second with the winning team’s anchor being a former St. Edmond student. You can’t be too bummed about a state title though and that whole car ride home was great. We still talk about that day every now and again.”

That stretch had a number of standout athletes in a number of sports, but the Gael track teams created special memories for the school.

“I love the small school, small town feel of having done our workouts (at St. Edmond). It felt like we were Hoosiers or something akin to that,” Kolacia said. “We had events and individuals who could compete with anyone in any class and even win. If you combined the athletes from 2009 and 2011, I think we could have won the 4A state meet. The amount of talent we had for track was almost unfathomable and there’s zero chance of seeing it again.

“That’s how special those teams were. I doubt any 2A school has had that much talent in that span. We had great title winning basketball teams, baseball teams and wrestlers, but St. Edmond’s best sport during that athletic storm was track. Heck — I think it still is.”