Now, Daniel will be flanked by several of his Dodger teammates beginning here on Thursday with the Class 4A portion of the co-ed championships.

Daniel, a University of Iowa football commit, is set to compete individually in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while FDSH teammate Jamarius Echols runs the 400-meter dash. Daniel is also part of the qualifying 4×100 and 4×200 relays, and head coach Nik Moser’s Fort Dodge squad earned a spot in the 4×800 relay field as well.

For the Dodger girls, the shuttle hurdle relay earned an at-large bid after posting a strong time at districts.

“It’s great having a lot of teammates make it to state,” Daniel said. “It will be fun to watch all of the events we will be competing in.”

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge girls track and field state qualiifers are (left to right) Charlotte DeJong, Adyson Friesth, Ava Osario and Maeleena Meyer.

Daniel ran in the 100 and 200 last year at state, placing 12th in the 200 prelims and 15th in the 100 prelims. He is seeded 13th in the 200 and 15th in the 100 this year, based on district times.

“It was nice to secure a spot (at state),” Daniel said. “Going into districts, I knew I could be one of the top guys and just had to run well to get in.

“My goals are to compete and make the finals.”

Echols, a junior, surprised many by winning the 400 at a district event hosted by Waukee Northwest. He posted the 15th-fastest state-qualifying time.

The 4×100 includes junior Sam Moser, senior Taevon Feeley, junior Kyree Rochon. Feeley, junior William Jones, Moser and Daniel comprised the 4×200 that earned a spot.

Junior Jayce Point, junior Cael Hansen, senior Simeon Roberts and foreign exchange student Joos Langkjaer are on the 4×800 squad for the Dodgers.

Fort Dodge is seeded 10th in the 4×200, 22nd in the 4×100 and 23rd in the 4×800. Alternates for the relays include Joseph Petersen, Jones Hensley, Joshua Jones, Dexter Johnson, Luke Beckley, Tru McBride and Amari McCaleb.

Daniel will run in the 200 prelims on Thursday at 11:10 a.m. and the 100 prelims later that day at 1:13 p.m. Echols hits the track less than 50 minutes later.

The 4×800 finals are Thursday at 12:30 p.m., the 4×200 finals are Friday at 11:45 a.m. and the 4×100 prelims are set for Friday at 1:03 p.m.

Sophomore Adyson Friesth, freshman Ava Osorio, sophomore Charlotte DeJong and senior Maeleena Meyer are slated to be in the shuttle hurdle relay for head coach Todd Constable’s Dodger girls on Thursday at 9:20 a.m. in the prelims. Alternates include senior Teryn Rippentrop, sophomore Brooklyn Nelson, senior LJ Maehl and senior Ava Wessels.

Friesth, Osorio, DeJong and Meyer clocked the 20th-fastest district time.