Miranda Jones, Mallori Jones, Ceanna White and Kalia Stover chopped four seconds off their season-best time in the event to finish sixth in Class 1A at Drake Stadium in Des Moines on Saturday.

“We didn’t come in thinking that we would place this high,” Mallori Jones said. “But it was our effort together, just trying as hard as we could, that made us get there.”

The Comet quartet ran 4:09.97 to improve on Friday’s qualifying time of 4:13.28. Riverside won with a 4:02.69.

Kalia Stover was coming off a 1,500-meter run a couple hours earlier, where she finished 21st in 5:15.75.

T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - The baton drops to the track as Gladbrook-Reinbeck runners Blake Mathern, left, and Elly Sieh try to complete a handoff during the sprint medley relay on Saturday at the state track meet in Des Moines. The Rebels recovered the baton to finish in 24th place in the race.

“I came in seeded last, so I wanted to run my hardest,” Stover said. “Just do as best I could, and I didn’t get last. … My legs were a bit tired [for the 4×400] but it’s mind over matter, you just gotta push through it.”

It was the last race for twin sisters Mallori and Miranda Jones, going out as three-time state medalists, all in events where they ran together in relays.

The Jones sisters were also on the 4×800 team that snagged fifth place in Class 1A on Thursday.

“I know I’m sad because it’s my last race and I won’t be here again,” Mallori said. “But it was just an amazing run, and going out with your teammates, it’s a great way to go out.”

White and Stover will return next year.

“We’re definitely expecting good things next year,” Stover said. “We’re going to miss [Mallori and Miranda] a lot. They’ve become some of my best friends, and we’ve definitely built such a relationship with them through track. It’ll be sad, but we’ll just push through it.”

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Around the 1A area: BCLUW’s sprint medley quartet of Jonas Nilsen, Carter Gallentine, Alex Paxson and Cael Keller finished 10th in 1:37.39. … Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s girls were 24th in the 1A sprint medley in 2:00.71 with Dylan Mathern, Blake Mathern, Elly Sieh and Kennedy Brant on the carry.