Indianola track and field athletes combined for 23 automatic state qualifier entries on Thursday night, competing in the Class 4A, Region 3 State Qualifying Meet in Indianola. The Indianola boys earned a district team championship, scoring 184 points to outscore second-place Dowling Catholic by 60. The Indianola girls placed second to Ames with 136.33 points.
First and second-place finishers in all events qualified for next week’s State Track and Field Championships in Des Moines.
The Indianola boys won eight events, including Kiefer Barnes in the 3,200 and 1,600, Reed Robbins in the 800, Easton McGraw in the 400 hurdles, Thomas DeWall in the high jump, and the sprint medley, distance medley and 4×400 relays. Placing second for the Indians were Aiden Curtis in the discus, McGraw in the high jump, Hank Gorder in the 400 hurdles, and the 4×100 relay.
The Indianola girls won four events, including Abbie Kluver in the discus, Blake Putney in the wheelchair para shot put, and the 4×800 and distance medley relays. Placing second were Madison Grover in the long jump and 400 hurdles, Emma White in the 400, Maya Whalen in the discus, Sam Gripp in the shot put, and the sprint medley and 4×400 relays.
Indianola is expected to add several more events to their state-qualifier list when at-large entries are announced today by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. The State Track and Field Championships will be held next Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 21-23) at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
