Crooks and Joyce defended their titles on the opening day of the Class 1A meet inside Drake Stadium, with Crooks capturing the shot put and Joyce the long jump.

The Golden Bears sit in first place overall with 20 points, the same situation they were in a year ago after wins by Crooks and Joyce. Bishop Garrigan’s shuttle hurdle relay of Reagan Murphy, Zoe Montag, Emma Grandgenett and Joyce qualified for the finals with the fastest time.

Crooks, who committed to Iowa State University’s basketball program earlier this year, broke the state record with a throw of 45-01. She topped the mark previously set by Nicole Dobernecker of Charter-Oak Ute, which came in 2011. Dobernecker would go on to play softball for Iowa Central.

“It was definitely a really good day,” Crooks said. “It’s crazy, but getting a good throw to start really helped ease the nerves a little bit. Then, you can get after it because you are comfortable.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Audi Crooks of Bishop Garrigan compete in 1A girls Shot Put on Thursday at Drake Stadium

“It’s just crazy. I haven’t even processed it all yet.”

Joyce had a jump of 17-11.75 to defend her crown, a leap that came on her first attempt of the championship flight. The junior also went 17-09.75, which had her second after the opening flight.

Earlier this spring, Joyce was third in the long jump at the Drake Relays. Both Crooks and Joyce were key members of the Bishop Garrigan girls basketball team that cut down the nets inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“It’s super exciting to be back at state and win another title in the long jump,” Joyce said. “It feels great to have been able to pull it off for the second year in a row. It was a lot of fun watching Audi as she broke the state record and I was glad I could add on to that excitement with long jump.

“Between both basketball and track, it has been one of the most fun years and one I definitely won’t forget.”

Murphy, Montag, Grandgenett and Joyce came out of the second heat and went 1:08.06 in the shuttle hurdle relay.

Moriah Knapp battled the heat to finish sixth in the 3,000-meter run in 3A for Algona. The Bulldog distance standout clocked a time of 11:21.15 to earn her medal. In the 2A 3,000, Manson Northwest Webster’s Alyssa Richman just missed a medal, finishing ninth in 11:31.58. Her teammate, Preslie Oswald, was 11th in 11:42.23.

The Cougars also finished 19th in the 4×800 behind Aleksandria Aljets, Oswald, Richman and Paige Condon. Algona was 23rd in the 4×800 with Andi Jensen, Kaitlyn Burns, Malyn Davis and Lauren McLaughlin running.

Jenna Vonnahme from Pocahontas Area secured a medal in the 2A 400-meter run, clocking a time of 1:00.79 to finish seventh.

Keira Hammen of South Central Calhoun earned eighth in the 2A shot put with a throw of 36-05.25. Humboldt’s Ashlynn Works was 14th in the 3A discus and teammate Morgan Mann finished 16th in the high jump and 17th in the 400.

Pocahontas Area’s Kaitlynn Schuller was 20th in the 2A 3,000. East Sac County’s Brooke Jergens (13th) and Emmetsburg’s Jade Mueller (16th) did not advance out of the prelims in the 2A 200.

Amanda Davis of Pocahontas Area just missed out on advancing in the 100 prelims, placing ninth. Jergens finished 11th and Mueller 13th. Eagle Grove’s Ayden Feske was 19th in the same race and teammate Addyson Jeske 22nd in the long jump.

In other 1A action, West Bend-Mallard’s 4×800 relay of Abi Schmidt, Ashley Fehr, Tiffany Fehr and Kierstin Montag placed 13th, Olivia Merrill of North Union was 15th in the shot put, Lexi Roberts from Newell-Fonda was 20th in the shot put and the Mustangs finished 22nd in the 4×800 with Hanna Sandvig, Cassie Beadle, Jacey Welbig and Lily Henderson running.