Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge defensive backs are, front row (left to right): Kaden Froisland, Patrick Clay, Sam Moser, Amarie Pettigrew, Tyreese Hill, Jordan Lessmeier and Tayven Altman. Back: Jesse Egli, Noah Daniel, Taevon Feeley, Jarrod Chada, Hunter Richardson and Drew Mason.

DES MOINES — For the second year in a row, Fort Dodge’s Noah Daniel will pull double duty in the Class 4A state track and field championships.

Daniel is the lone Dodger qualifier for the meet, which begins here on Thursday inside Drake Stadium.

Both of his events are set for opening day, as the 200-meter dash prelims hit the blue oval at 4:40 p.m. Daniel enters with the 10th-fastest time from districts at 22.01.

Roughly two hours later will be the 100-meter dash prelims, where Daniel also has the 10th-best district time at 10.73. He is in the third heat of both prelim events.

“It’s great to get back to state,” said Daniel, who has football offers from Central Michigan, Northern Iowa, South Dakota and South Dakota State. “It’s always a great time and a tremendous chance to compete against the best runners in Iowa.

“I think the experience I got from last year will help me a lot.”

Last year, Daniel ran in the prelims of both sprint events. The first team all-state football selection this past fall was 17th in the 100 at 11.06 and 19th in the 200 at 22.68.

Prior to running in one of the fastest state-qualifying meets last Thursday in Mason City, Daniel had gone a season-best 11.14 in the 100 and 22.68 in the 200.

“My goals are to make the finals in both events,” Daniel said. “I just have to go out and run my race.”

Waterloo West senior Ben Frazier owns the top 100 time from districts at 10.46. Ankeny’s Logan Fairchild leads the 200 field at 21.54.

Frazier’s time is the fastest this season in Class 4A. Fairchild has gone 21.50.