—Submitted Photo The Fort Dodge boys track team stands for a photo after winning the Don Graves Des Moines East Invitatonal on Saturday in Des Moines.

DES MOINES — The Fort Dodge boys track squad showed a flair for the dramatic on Saturday at the Don Graves Des Moines East Invitational.

Trailing by one point heading into the final event of the meet, the Dodgers’ 4×400 relay quartet of junior Jamarius Echols, junior Jayce Point, senior Simeon Roberts and sophomore Joseph Petersen earned gold to give the program its first team championship since 2021.

FDSH clipped Marshalltown by a point for the title. Ottumwa was third.

“We talked to them at the start of the week about having a chance to win the meet,” Dodger head coach Nik Moser said. “But it’s one thing to put pen to paper and it’s another to go and do it. The kids deserve a ton of credit. They bought into the gameplan to maximize our points scored.

“The goal was to come out on top, and they did that. It’s a great accomplishment for their confidence in the first outdoor event of the year.”

The 4×4 wasn’t the only gold medalist for Fort Dodge on a wind-whipped day of action. Senior Noah Daniel took first place in the 100-meter dash, and the 4×200 relay team of junior Sam Moser, junior Will Jones, Echols and Daniel also prevailed. The distance medley relay of Moser, Daniel, Echols and Point was first as well.

The Dodgers’ real strength, though, was in their depth. Jones (200), Roberts (400) and Point (800) were all runner-ups, as was senior Luke Fierke in the discus. The sprint medley relay quartet of Moser, Roberts and sophomores Luke Beckley and Dexter Johnson also secured silver.

“Everyone competed,” Moser said. “Simeon in particular had a great meet. He has a lot of potential as the year progresses. Will Jones did a nice job. Noah did what Noah does. We ran a really competitive 4×2 time despite the wind. I think we’re seeing glimpses with guys like Sam, Jamarius and Jayce. Eli Pritchard and Mason Hughes were kind of thrown into the 4×8 and they answered the call.

“I’m just proud of the way they all got after it and kept the intensity level high to try and set the tone for the season.”

Cael Hansen placed third behind Point in the open 800 for Fort Dodge. The shuttle hurdle relay team of sophomore Brock Nelson, freshman Aaron Perez, freshman Riley Klein and freshman Liam Kraft was also third.

Hansen (1600), Jones (3200) and Perez (high hurdles) all took fourth. Petersen (400), Nelson (high hurdles) and sophomore Brody Maehl (shot put) were fifth.

Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North and Des Moines East rounded out the field.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Thursday at Ballard.