-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Noah Daniels of Fort Dodge compete in 4A boys 100 meter dash on Saturday inside Drake Stadium

DES MOINES — One final race was all Noah Daniel needed to complete his incredible Fort Dodge athletics career.

Daniel, who will head to Iowa City and join the University of Iowa football program in the fall, earned his first state track and field medal here Saturday in the Class 4A 100-meter dash.

The Dodger sprinter moved up two spots from his qualifying position, placing sixth with a season-best of 10.94. Norwalk’s Kaiden Kunze, who became the first 4A athlete to win four individual state titles during the meet, was the race winner in 10.63.

Daniel bettered his prelim time of 10.99 from last Thursday inside Drake Stadium. He was also close to making the 200-meter dash finals earlier in the meet, finishing 11th in the prelims.

“It was a great experience and I am happy that I got to compete on the big stage with my hometown across my chest,” Daniel said. “With it being my last time competing as a Dodger it was a bitter sweet experience, but a good one to end it.

“I would like to thank Fort Dodge for all of the support.”

Over the last three years, Daniel made the 100 and 200 fields each time, with this marking his first appearance in the finals. He became the first Fort Dodge runner to make a finals since 2023 when Connor Carver placed second in the 110-meter hurdles.

The Dodger track team loses Daniel and fellow state qualifiers Taevon Feeley, Simeon Roberts and Joos Langkjaer, but will return qualifiers Jamarius Echols, Cael Hansen, William Jones, Kyree Rochon and Sam Moser.