Valley Relays Show Potential

By Coach Vanderah | April 7, 2024

Dowling came away with 100 team points on Bishop Dowling's birthday. Here is where they came from:

• 100 meters: Emily Heitzman finished in 3rd to earn 6 team points.

• 200 meters: Annie Smith set a new PR of 25.92 to finish second (8 points), and Lauren McCoy was right behind her in third with a SB 25.99 (6 points). Annie's time puts her 10th in school history in the 200!

• 400 meters: Maddie Nagel finished in 7th for 2 points, and Sadie Reinhardt set a new PR of 1:07.47 to finish 8th (1 point).

• 800 meters: Molly O'Halloran sets a new PR of 2:35.15 finishing 7th (2 points), and Elise Huegerich is right behind her to finish 8th (1 point).

• 3000 meters: Liv Hall runs a SB of 11:01.89 to finish in 6th (3 points), and Braelyn Gifford finishes in 8th (1 point)

• 100 hurdles: Franny Brooks runs consitent to her times this year despite the wind to finish in 4th for 5 points.

• 400 hurdles: Katherine Banker runs a SB of 1:08.19 to finish 3rd, earning 6 team points.

• HIgh jump: Alex Gaskell fights through some ankle issues to finish 2nd and earned 8 points.

• Long jump: Ruby Leman finally got a chance to jump this season, starting her campaign with an 18'1 jump to win and earn 10 points. This mark breaks the Junior Record at DCHS and earns her the Blue Oval Standard.

• Discus: Audrey Ott threw disc for the first time this year and finished in 6th to earn 3 points.

• Shot put: Kenzie Dean finishes in 7th place, earning 2 team points

• 4x100: Ruby Leman, Emily Heitzman, Shea Johnson, and Ellie Mead finish in 3rd place for 6 points.

• 4x200: Ruby Leman, Emily Heitzman, Shea Johnson, and Ellie Mead finish in 4th place for 5 points.

• 4x400: Annie Smith, Maddie Nagel, Katherine Banker, and Lauren McCoy finish in 5th place for 4 points.

• 4:800: Cora Volp, Molly O'Halloran, Sadie Reinhardt, and Elise Huegerich finish in 5th place for 4 points.

• Sprint Medley: Shea Johnson, Emily Heitzman, Annie Smith, and Lauren McCoy run a SB 1:50.03, finishing 2nd for 8 points.

• Distance Medley: Marion Boot, Lilah Murphy, Ava Van Ee, and Lizzy Tiffany run a SB 4:48.25, finishing 8th for 1 point.

• Shuttle Hurdle: Annie Smith, Franny Brooks, Katherine Banker, and Ruby Leman finish in 2nd place for 8 points.

This meet's MVP is Ruby Leman (14.75 points) 🏆

Now, we can't forget the main event - the coaches 4x400! Two of our coaches, Isaiah and Kelly, paired up with two of the Dowling boys coaches (Charlie Johnson & Caleb Rigdon) to come away with the title. All three of the guys went under 60 seconds on their legs, and Coach Parriott smashed her own expectations (she was joking she would run an 80 and then busted out a 73). It may have been a slightly unfair advantage having four coaches who ran competitively in college (Grand View, Iowa State, Drake, and Coe from left to right), but if you have an advantage why not use it?

Ruby Leman - Long Jump (18'1): Junior Record

Annie Smith - 200 Meters (25.92): 10th in school history, 4th all-time for juniors

Lauren McCoy - 200 Meters (25.99): Moves from 3rd to 2nd all-time for sophomores

Audrey Ott - Discus (111'6): 4th all-time for seniors

Liv Hall - 3000 Meters (11:01.89): 8th all-time for seniors

Jersey Messerschmidt: Long jump 13'4

Molly O'Halloran: 800 meters 2:35.15

Sadie Reinhardt: 400 meters 1:07.47

Annie Smith: 200 meters 25.92

Cora Volp: 1500 meters 5:23.62

Here is a running list of the Blue Oval Standards the team has met to automatically qualify for the Drake Relays:

• Long Jump: Ruby Leman 18'1

• 4x100: 50.36 - Ruby Leman, Emily Heitzman, Shea Johnson, and Ellie Mead

• Shuttle Hurdle: 1:04.51 - Annie Smith, Franny Brooks, Alex Gaskell, and Ruby Leman

April 9: Gary DouBrava Invitational at Urbandale High School

April 11: Northwest Girls Relays at Waukee Northwest High School

April 13: Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake Stadium