DES MOINES — The Mustangs are moving on.

The East Marshall boys’ 4×400-meter relay team tallied a new season-best time of 3 minutes, 28.81 seconds on Friday to qualify for Saturday’s Class 1A finals at the Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

The Mustang quartet of Blake Neuroth, Kaden Grant, Eli Burns and Cael Curphy took more than a second off their qualifying time of 3:30.10 to improve from the 13th-seeded relay to qualify as one of the top eight for Saturday’s finale.

Mustang junior Nathan Frye also finished seventh in the high jump on Friday, clearing 5 feet, 11 inches, to score points for the team. Frye went over 5-11 on his first attempt but couldn’t eclipse 6-1 and was among a five-way tie for seventh.

Fellow Mustang junior Marisa Cahalan collected 12th in the high jump as well, clearing 5 feet on her second try.

The East Marshall girls’ distance medley team of Gianna Boswell, Libby Atcher, Addy Denham and Sydney Hull hammered out a five-second season-best time of 4:25.22 to climb from the 20th seed to place 14th in Friday morning’s timed finals.

Neuroth notched a new personal-best in the 400 hurdles, taking 13th in 55.82. Burns clipped a couple hurdles in settling for 19th in the 110 highs in 15.88 seconds.

GMG’s Bessman 20th

GMG senior Jay Bessman was the fifth athlete to take to the throwing ring for the Class 1A discus competition, eventually finishing in 20th place in his state meet debut.

Bessman entered as the 20th seed with his qualifying heave of 141 feet, 4 inches, and he narrowly missed matching that mark on Thursday. After a slow start, Bessman built up quickly and threw 139-5 on his last of three attempts to climb out of last place.

Bessman was the only 1A discus qualifier from the Iowa Star Conference.

Trojans’ Gile gets 22nd

West Marshall senior Ryder Gile got over the opening height — a season high of 5 feet, 11 inches — on his third try on the way to 22nd place in the Class 2A long jump on Friday afternoon.

Gile went 0-for-3 at 6-1 to end his state meet debut.

Lisbon’s Henry Reiling claimed the 1A state title with a toss of 172-9.