Grace Metzger

MARION — The Marshalltown track and field teams have two automatic state-meet qualifiers, and both of them are Grace Metzger.

Metzger, a senior, finished first in the discus and second in the shot put on Thursday at the Class 4A state-qualifying meet hosted by Linn-Mar to gain automatic entry into next week’s season-ending event in Des Moines.

Metzger threw 104 feet, 11 inches to lead the field in the discus, and her lifetime-best effort of 35-9 1/2 was good for second place in the shot put. It wasn’t far behind the meet champion Mari Shavers from Waterloo West, either, who threw 36-3 for gold.

Metzger was the only automatic state qualifier for the Bobcats, who must await Friday’s announcement of at-large berths by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The Marshalltown girls placed sixth in the final team standings with 58 points. Cedar Falls was champion of the eight-team meet with 181.5 points. On the boys’ side, the Bobcats were last out of eight teams with 29 points.

Complete results were not available as of press time.