As another track season comes around, the state’s top runners battle it out to be the best. This year’s Drake Relays were held on April 25-28 at Drake Stadium at Drake University, and it was up to seniors Ethan Brown and Theresa Lampe, and sophomore Josh Volk to represent the Saints. Brown and Volk both qualified in the shot put and Lampe qualified in the 100 meter hurdles.

At the beginning of the season these Saints knew that qualifying was not far out of reach.

“Coming into the season I knew that qualifying for the Drake Relays was a possibility,” Brown said. “I knew the extra work I put in was what it was going to take to qualify.”

Volk placed 14th with a distance of 51’9”, followed by Brown with a 51’5”.

As for Lampe, she placed 30th in her hurdle race with a time of 16.36.

Although she did not place as well as she had hoped, her love for running has not been lost.

“I run because it is fun,” Lampe said. “The feeling of working hard to achieve something is awesome and it is satisfying when you run a good race.”

However, these three Saints are not done yet. They all share the same goal of making it to and placing well at the state meet. As long as Volk has his Snickers, he sees this happening.

“I love throwing,” Volk said. “It has always been a passion of mine, but I need a Snickers first.”

Earlier this season Volk broke the school record for shot put, with a  throw of 53’11’’ on Tuesday, April 24 at the Cedar Rapids Xavier Invite.

Since Drake, the girls competed Tuesday, May 1 at  the Cedar Rapids Prairie Relays.   

Both track teams will compete in their MVC Divisionals. The girls’ track team is at Iowa City West tonight. The boys’ team also competes tonight at Kingston Stadium, both beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Syd Walther

Sports Writer