DES MOINES — In each event at the Iowa State Track Meet there are 24 entries. In some, there are clear-cut favorites, while in others the title might be up for grabs between three or four contenders.
However, in most events at least half — if not more — of the entries stand little shot of even reaching the top eight, and thus earning a medal.
For those individuals and relay foursomes, setting personal, team or school records might be the target. Perhaps producing a faster time or greater distance is the goal.
Whatever the case, none can deny that those “other” teams or individuals have any less fun or are less honored than the top-level entries when it comes to competing on Drake Stadium’s famous Blue Oval or in a state meet field event. When a single athlete or relay member is a senior — especially one yet to appear at state — the moment can be indescribable.
Cue the Perry girls distance medley, which competed Friday in the first of three heats in Class 3A.
Senior Rachel Kinney ran the opening 200 meters, handing the baton to junior Breanna Penenger, who took the wand the next 200 meters. At that point senior Haley Vaughn made a 400-meter circuit of the track, with junior Sid Vancil running the 800-meter anchor leg.
The quartet had qualified 23rd in 4 minutes 27.5 seconds. They finished 23rd after clocking in in 4:34.43 in the cold and damp conditions.
Would the foursome have preferred lowering their time? Improving their placing? Of course, and yes, certainly. Did all four clearly enjoy the moment? Undeniably.
“This was very exciting,” Kinney said afterward. “Especially since I am a senior and this is my first year out (for track) to just come down here and run was great.”
Was the state meet rookie nervous?
“Not at all,” she said. “I was more nervous before all of our other meets. I knew this was my last meet, my last race, so I wasn’t nervous at all.”
Vancil, who had competed at state two years ago, said having Kinney and Vaughn — both seniors out for track for the first time — made her return experience a special one.
“This was just as much fun as I remember having as a freshman,” Vancil said. “I think anytime you have a chance to run here it is going to be great, and to do it with these girls after we have worked so hard this season to get here — and then to have it be the last time for Rachel and Haley — it just made it that much more fun.”
The unseasonably cool conditions likely had an effect on the team, Penenger said, but she offered no excuses.
“It would have been better to have it warmer, because when it is like this is just makes it harder to get warmed up and stay warm,” she said. “But it was the same for everyone. Our goal was just to go out and do our best and we did.”
By the time the baton passed to Vaughn the Jayettes had fallen behind the lead pack. Vaughn might have tried sprinting up to the pack early on her leg, but that would likely have cost her any reserves over the last 100 meters.
“I just wanted to keep my eye on them and run my pace,” she said. “I wanted to run best and I think I did.”
Kinney likely summed up the experience best.
“You are running at state,” she said. “How can that not be fun?”
