DES MOINES — On a cool evening for state track standards, area athletes went all-in on their respective events. Gladbrook-Reinbeck junior Kennedy secured another state medal with her effort in the Class 1A girls 400-meter dash. Finishing with a time of 59.94, the season-best time secured eighth place.

Looking a bit nervous before the race began, Brant admitted having lots of pressure put on herself.

“I was putting a lot of pressure on myself,” she said. “Just comparing myself to last year, I wanted to do better than that.”

With her legs tying up, Brant kept her arms moving and fought home hard, dipping under 60 seconds and earning another state medal to kick off her busy weekend at Drake Stadium.

With the 400 hurdles and high jump on deck for Friday night, the Rebels’ star athlete has her recovery figured out.

“Definitely some stretching tonight, lot of water, probably a hot shower, and then more stretching and more water,” she said.

Meanwhile on the infield, Emmitt Petermeier sent his senior year out in style. The BCLUW shot put thrower came away with a seventh-place finish, launching the shot put 48 feet, 2 inches.

Petermeier’s first throw ended up being his furthest, something he admits is typical.

“Usually my first throws are my best throws, which as you saw today,” he said.

After earning his way into the finals after his first throw, the Comet senior never quite found his groove in the ring, with fouls for his third and fourth attempts.

“I’m a little surprised, I came into this seeded 10th, and I’m happy I came out seventh with a medal,” he said.

BCLUW junior Grace Farnsworth got 17th in the shot put with a toss of 34-9 3/4, one spot behind GMG freshman Arianna Pierce. Pierce cleared 34-10 1/2 for 16th. Comet junior Vance Hoyt was 22nd in the long jump, clearing 18-9 3/4.

BCLUW also qualified a girls’ 4×800 foursome, which placed 21st. The quartet of Abby Kemp, Chloe Switzer, Raegan Crawford and Kalia Stover combined for a time of 10:32.32.

North Tama saw two events compete on Thursday evening, with both a 4×800-meter relay team and Tyrus Luker in the 100-meter dash.

Luker, a senior, was one of only five athletes in the 1A 100 prelims to set a personal best in cool, overcast weather. It was a performance that earned him 16th overall in his one and only state meet appearance, running 11.52.

The Redhawks’ 4×800 quartet of Shawna Cibula, Olivia Youngblood, Isla Breakenridge and Gabriella Seda improved its season best by 8.13 seconds to run a time of 10.19.14, good enough for 16th place.

Running the second leg, Olivia Youngblood was ecstatic about the young group’s performance.

“I think this is a really big opportunity, we were all really excited about it,” she said. “Honestly I’m really happy with how we performed. We PR’d, it’s perfect weather to come out here and do what we do best.”

With all four members set to return next year, the future is bright for North Tama’s young track team.