Previewing the Drake Relays - Throws (shot put, discus)
Where are you Doug Lane, Paulette Mitchell, Scott Crowell, and Abby Emsick? While the 2011 Drake Relays throws will be competitive, there are no great ones as in the past.
Look for Justin Baker (Sioux City Bishop Heelan) to be the star of the current show, likely winning double golds in the boys events. He’ll be challenged by Eric Simmons (Madrid), Ben Stutt (Monticello), Joe Carber (Central Clinton, DeWitt), and Chris LaMar (Ames) in the shot; and Sam Joens (Prairie, Cedar Rapids), Brady Grunder (Durant-Bennett), Michael Smithburg (Fairfield), and Tim Nemechek (Central, Elkader) in the discus. A number of others are close.
But none will challenge the Drake and Iowa All-Time shot put records 67’2 ¼” and 70’11” that Doug Lane (Cedar Rapids Jefferson) set in 1968; or the Drake discus mark of Chase Madison (199’1”, Newton, 2004) and All-Time standard of Scott Crowell (207’8”, Mason City, 1978).
The girls throws will feature strong favorites and several may-be’s. Kayla Hemman from small Saint Ansgar is the class of the field in the shot; with Amanda Houston (Fort Madison), Jadyn Spencer (Waterloo West), Alex Halbur (IKM-Manning), Calsey Schwamman (Turkey Valley), NiCole Dobernecker (Charter Oak-Ute) and Valerie Veriock (Valley, WDM) among others battling for second. Paulette Mitchell’s (Council Bluffs Lincoln) Drake and Iowa All-Time records of 50’4 ¾” and 53’3 ½”, set in 1992, are secure.
North Fayette’s Lauren Smith will be the Drake champ in the discus; with Hemman, Veiock, Chloe Schmidt (Benton Community), Dakota Goodell (Williamsburg), Amy Wright (Earlham), and Amanda Piche (Linn-Mar) vying for the silver. Mackenaie Siefken (Algona) is the sleeper. The Drake discus record is held by Taylor Freeman (Iowa City West, 151’1”, 2007), the Iowa All-Time mark by Abby Emsick (Lewis Central, 162’5”, 2000); and are within reach by Smith.
We won’t even ask for the javelin or hammer events!!
Stay tuned tomorrow when we preview the relays.