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Holmes brings home another MHS medal

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown junior Malachi Holmes placed seventh in the Class 4A boys’ long jump with a top distance of 21 feet, 1 1/2 inches on Friday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

DES MOINES — It wasn’t the perfect day for Marshalltown junior Malachi Holmes, but he proved himself to still be one of Class 4A’s best long jumpers. Holmes finished seventh in the long jump Friday morning at the state co-ed track and field meet, medaling for the second-straight year after taking fifth in 2021.

Holmes’ first leap of 21 feet, 1 1/2 inches was his best of the day — short of his qualifying best of 22-4 1/2. His five other jumps didn’t eclipse 21 feet. Conditions were cool on Friday after the heat of the state qualifying meets last week.

The junior was frustrated with how he performed, but said it was something that could motivate him into his senior season.

“It was OK but I didn’t do my best, I feel like I could have done better,” Holmes said. “It’ll make me work harder and want it more.”

Two other Bobcats competed Friday morning, with senior Aaron Seberger taking part in his final athletic event as a Marshalltown student. The surprise qualifier at the 110 meter high hurdles finished with a career-best time of 15.48 seconds, good for a 17th-place finish.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown senior Aaron Seberger finishes the Class 4A boys’ 110-meter high hurdles preliminaries in a career-best time of 15.48 seconds, placing 17th overall Friday in Des Moines.

Just one month ago it wasn’t clear what events Seberger would even be running in qualifiers — and in less than a month of focusing on the hurdles, he found his way to state.

Seberger said it was a great experience.

“I didn’t feel like I was running super fast, but with some of the fastest guys in the state running alongside, it really helped push me through the race,” Seberger said. “You really can’t ask for much more at a state meet. It’s super cool, especially with all the fans. It’s packed.

“It’s kind of cool to represent Marshalltown in a fun way and go out and have fun doing something fun on the blue oval. Two weeks ago I had no clue what I was going to run, zero clue.”

Lilly Duff also completed her Marshalltown career on Friday, coming in 12th place in the shot put with a best throw of 34 feet, 8 1/2 inches. Duff outperformed her seeding after qualifying for state with the 17th-best distance. This was Duff’s second event of the state meet after finishing third in the discus toss with a career-best throw of 128-7.

On Saturday Bobcat junior Micah Blevins will take part in the 800 run finals at 10:30 a.m.

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