Hundreds of high school athletes took to the Blue Oval at Drake Stadium Thursday. North Mahaska competed in four events on the first day of Class 1A competition.
Emmerson Jedlicka, a junior running to 3,000 meters, had been nursing a hip entry over the last couple weeks. Her fourth-place finish at districts still qualified her for the state meet on time. She attempted to run the event but left the track after two laps because of severe pain.
Emmerson Jedlicka runs the 3,000 meters at state.
“I worked out before the race and I felt I could go,” said Jedlicka holding ice packs on her hip. “After the first couple laps it was just hurting too much and so I decided to step off the track.”
Coach Amy Griffin said the decision to run was all Jedlicka’s.
“I told her it was up to her,” said Griffin. “We had talked to the officials about if she couldn’t make it and knew she could step off, so she knew she had an out.”
“I thought about not running but if I had been able to run and didn’t, would I regret the decision, so I tried it,” said Jedlicka. “I’m glad I tried.”
She lived out the Special Olympics’ motto, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt.” State special Olympics is competing in Ames this weekend as well.
Lili Denton of St. Albert crushed the Iowa mark running the event in 9 minutes 42.04 seconds winning by more than 30 seconds over Pekin’s Chloe Glosser. Denton’s mark put her 13th in the United States this season.
Sophomore Nataliya Linder, who came in with the second-best jump in the long jump entering the state competition, finished third in a competitive field. She had a jump over 17-feet, but Ella Whitney of Wayne of Corydon had a better jump in on the last go round girl from Madrid jump to go just ahead of her.
RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
North Mahaska’s Nataliya Linder sails through the air to earn third in the Class 1A long jump.
Linder’s second jump in her flight went 17-0.5. Whitney jumped 17-1.25 as they headed to the finals. Whitney jumped 17-5.75 on her second leap in finals. Madrid’s leap on her final jump was 15-5.25.
“I didn’t have my best day jumping,” said Linder. “I drug my foot on one and I was just struggling with my foot at the board. Just wasn’t my day, but I am so proud to be down here so happy to get on the podium and wave at the crowd and receive a medal just glad to be able to represent my school.”
She also picked up six team points for the Warhawks.
Kieren Perez took to the track in the 100 meters in a field that saw even competitors post season bests or personal records. Paige Richards, coming out of the long jump second posted the best time of 12.29 seconds. Perez placed 12th in 12.94. It was not her fastest time of the season but was elated with her finish.
“I’ve never been to state track before, so I think for a first-time state track qualifier I think 12th is really good,” said a smiling Perez. “I am happy with that. My mom kept telling me no matter what I made it to state, and I would be in the top 24.”
Kieren Perez, left, outruns Riverside’s Arabella Singleton and Baxter’s Sydney Hibbs in the 100 meters.
Perez said she has been working on some technique parts of her race.
“Out of my blocks I usually get a really slow start,” said Perez. “I focused on really getting out of the blocks and I think I definitely did good. I feel really good. I still have tomorrow (Friday) to get better. I ran below 13 and have run consistently under 13. I am really happy about that. At the start of the season, I was running a 13.4. I ran a 12.82 so I’m there. I still have summer season, fall and next track season to get there and be even faster.”
Perez competes in the 100-meter hurdle prelim at 4 p.m. Friday and the 400-meter relay prelim at 6:20 p.m.
“I take this (100 meters) and push. I want to place at state,” said Perez. “I think that would be so cool. I feel really confident in my hurdles and think I can PR tomorrow. If I can cut off a part of my time, which is form and I have been working on that, I can get top eight. Our 4 by 1, we all want it, and I think we can get top eight.”
Nataliya Linder dashes out of the blocks in the 400 meters.
Linder competed in the 400 meter and set her personal bet of 1:01.87 to place 17th overall. Kadence Huck of Nashua-Plainfield won the event in 55.61 seconds. Linder will have another shot at another medal in the 400-meter hurdle final Friday at 5:40 p.m.