The AGWSR junior showed up to the Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships in four events, and went home with four medals by the end of the weekend. Her anchor in the 4×800-meter relay earned her and the Cougars — who tied for 11th in the team race with 35 points — second place in a time of 10 minutes, 8 seconds. Saturday’s finals in the 1,500 and 800 earned her fourth and sixth, respectively, with times of 4:54.29 (personal best) and 2:22.04 (also a personal best).

In all, Fisher snagged 20 of the Cougars’ 35 team points.

“That was my goal, to come out with four medals,” Fisher said. “The last two years, I’ve only gotten three. So, it was my goal this year to come away with four. I was really happy to get to do that.”

In her final race of the 2018 season, Fisher said she found success in a minor shortcoming. Rounding Turn 4 and headed for home, the miler clung to a minimal lead against McKenna Waver of West Fork. But in the final 100 meters, Weaver found the edge past Fisher to take third. But if it wasn’t for the back and forth with her West Fork rival, Fisher might not have accomplished her ultimate goal.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON • South Tama County sophomore Callie Frakes runs during the Class 3A 1,500-meter race on Saturday in the Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships.

“I knew she was right there behind me, so I was trying to push myself to keep that pace up and hold her off,” Fisher said. “And I know that part didn’t end up working out for me, but that’s alright because she pushed me at the end to run faster. And that helped me get my PR, which I only got by one second. Had she not been right there, I might not have been able to achieve that.”

Fisher is in the midst of a storied career for AGWSR. Her state appearances and placements at both the cross country level and track and field scene have put her in the upper echelon of Class 1A distance runners. To close the gap — literally and figuratively — on the best of the, offseason training is a must.

“They’re just going to keep getting faster and faster, which means I’ve got to work twice as hard over the summer,” Fisher said. “Even during cross country and basketball, I’ve got to really keep running if I want a chance to stay with them next year.”

Of this year’s 1,500 field, only two of the 24 were seniors. The four fastest finishers are all juniors, followed by freshman Peyton Pogge of Tri-Center.

GMG’s Kyla Wilkening is one of those two seniors, graduating at the top of their game. Wilkening, who came on the area prep scene when she became the first female athlete to qualify for the state cross country meet from GMG in 2015, finished 10th with a personal best 5:07.30 in the 1,500. She was also 15th in the 3,000, through in a time 11:41.35 on Thursday.

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON • Grundy Center junior Derek Ciddio runs in the Class 1A 1,600-meter race on Saturday in the Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships. Ciddio placed 15th in the race, matching his placing in the 3,200 earlier in the championships.

Other area action

To say it’s been a trying season for South Tama County sophomore Callie Frakes, would be an understatement.

Through inclement weather, cancelled meets, a boot and hip issues, the STC distance runner managed to overcome adversity and cap off her season in Des Moines. Frakes finished 23rd in the 1,500, running a personal best 5:11.22.

During the last year, Frakes wore a boot on a broken foot, which led to hip issues and more time away from the track. The days ticked away, and so did the meets, but the sophomore still managed to work at home on stretches and certain therapies to help her stay in shape.

“My bones shifted in my hips, because of the boot,” Frakes said. “And I felt it the other day, but it doesn’t bother me while I’m running.”

Frakes said she’s more of a sustaining distance runner, meaning he forte resides in the 3,000 event. When she failed to qualify for state at the district meet in said event, she felt the season was over. When the 1,500 rolled around, she went out for a fun run, messed around, and made it to state.

“It’s been good. For districts, we were planning on me qualifying for the 3,000 because that’s my thing,” Frakes said. “I didn’t get nervous for the 1,500; I didn’t think much of it. I ran it, and made it in that. I’m glad I’ve made it here after all the injuries. And I might not have placed well here in the mile, but I still made it.”

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Lily Ehlers also joined area athletes in the 1,500 finals Saturday, finishing 16th in a time of 5:15.09. Over on the boys’ side, Derek Ciddio placed 15th with a personal record of 4:44.23 in the 1A mile. Zakee Newman was 22nd in the 2A mile in 4:47.99 for South Hardin as well.

In the half mile, Alec Stahl wound up 12th for AGWSR in a time of 2:01.60, while Ethan Karsjen broke GMG’s school record, finishing seventh in a time of 2:00.29.