-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Aaron Hindt of St. Edmond compete in 1A boys 200 meter dash on Saturday inside Drake Stadium

DES MOINES — For the first time in his St. Edmond track and field career, Aaron Hindt left Drake Stadium with a medal around his neck.

Hindt, a Gael junior, placed seventh here Saturday afternoon on the final day of the state track and field championships.

After reaching the finals with a 22.47 in the Class 1A 200-meter dash prelims last Thursday, Hindt sped his way to seventh in 22.60. Landon Grell of Lawton-Bronson was the event winner in 21.99.

“(Making the finals) was very exciting and a position that brought a lot of fulfillment,” Hindt said. “Running in the finals this year was a beneficial experience. It really brought awareness to my sprinting that was very much needed.”

Last year, Hindt had appeared to make the finals in the 200 before a rules violation knocked him out of the event. He was 10th in the 100-meter dash prelims as a sophomore that season.

“(Winning a medal) is a very nice thing,” Hindt said. “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity.”

The St. Edmond girls completed their state track experience by running in the sprint medley relay. The quartet of Kenzie Nolte, Breckyn Ulrich, Ava Bradley and Anna Lursen finished 16th in a season-best time of 1:54.25.

“A great last race for the girls,” SEHS girls head coach CJ Tracy said. “They had a PR by over two seconds. Three of the four are newbies to the state meet, so this was a great experience for them. Anna ran a great anchor leg and did what she does best.

“It was a great way to end our state meet.”

Lursen, who will run at the University of South Dakota in the fall, and fellow senior Brianna Saathoff “have been a huge part of our track program ever since I started with them in middle school,” Tracy said.

“They accomplished so much on and off the track, and are phenomenal human beings,” he added. “They both were dealt with adversity this year and handled it with class. We are so proud of them and they both are going to be greatly missed.”

Bradley is finishing her sophomore season while both Nolte and Ulrich are freshmen.