NOTE: IN PREVIOUS RELEASE DID NOT INCLUDE 400 METER
North Mahaska senior Sean Knockel entered the state track meet at Drake Stadium on Thursday hoping for a shot at a state title. In his preliminary of the 200 meters his goal fell just .09 hundredths of a second for a spot in the finals. He redeemed himself in the 400 earning an eighth place finish.
In his 400 race a runner was disqualified on an early jump leaving seven in the field of the heat, which turned out to be the fastest. Six of the top eight came in Knockel’s heat. Ryce Reynolds of
Mount Ayr won the event in 49.22 seconds and Theo Moseman of Lawton-Bronson was second in 49.75. Knockel posted a time of 51.92. Conner Matson of Lynnville-Sully placed seventh in his heat and overall.
Knockel’s field of runners in the 200 meters consisted of a number of the state’s best including English Valleys rival Beau Flander. Knockel posted a time of 23.37 seconds to finish fourth in his heat. Bryer Prochinak of North Union finished just ahead of him in 23.28. That difference moved Knockel into ninth, just missing Saturday’s final. St. Albert’s Brendan Monahan had the best time in the heats at 22.48 just ahead of Tripoli’s Liam Carson in 22.51.
North Mahaska’s 3,200-meter relay team ran just after noon Thursday finishing 12th in their heat and 24th overall.
In the relay, Earlham was the team to beat as they won the event for the third time in a row in 8:04.95. New London was second in 8:11.57.
North Mahaska’s quartet of Nate Sampson, Lane Harmon, Anthony Goemaat and Brayden Veiseth ran the course in 8:57.40 and finished 24th overall. During their heat the quartet was able to get as high as eighth during the third leg. Lane Harmon and Anthony Goemaat was able to execute the exchange in traffic and Goemaat powered his way to eighth after 600 meters but slipped to ninth at the final exchange.