Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 17, 2012

A total of 19 Mount Ayr Community high school track athletes have qualified to take part in the coed state track meet in Des Moines beginning today [Thursday, May 17, 2012]. Girls heading to the state meet include, above, front row, from left: Katelyn WARIN, Paige DAUGHTON, Madison HOSFIELD, Leah KLEJCH and Logan WIMER. Second row from left: Maggie JENNETT, Adrian RICHARDS, Emily FOX, Megan DOUBLEDAY and Brook RYCHNOVSKY.

Boys heading to the state meet include, below, front row from left: Cody STACKHOUSE, Grant STAATS, Noah LARSEN, Erick FREE and Jack JONES. Second row, from left: Lincoln MARTIN, Dustin PRITCHETT, Braydee POORE and Jacob SOBOTKA.

Mount Ayr Community placed second in the 1A district meet held in Corning on May 10.

The Raiders battled a strong Fremont-Mills team and just came up nine points short at the end. The team scoring included Fremont-Mills--141, Mount Ayr Community--132, East Mills--95.5, Griswold--78, Stanton--56, Bedford--44, Sidney--43, Nishnabotna--28, Essex--20, Villisca--19, South Page--10 and Lenox--7.

"We qualified competitors in seven events this year," said coach Brad ELLIOTT. "We competed well, but just came up a few points short tonight."

Jacob SOBOTKA will be competing in three events -- the 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash and will be a member of the 4x100 meter relay. The other members on the relay team are Cody STACKHOUSE, Erik FREED and Grant STAATS.

SOBOTKA turned in a great time in winning the 400 meter dash in :51.65, which will put him the fast heat at state.

Braydee POORE will be competing in both the 110 meter hurdles and the high jump. POORE won the state high jump title in class 2A last season. He will have to be at his best as there are some outstanding jumpers in Class 1A this season.

Noah LARSEN will be making Raiders second at district meet Qualify seven for state track meet his first trip to state running in the 3200 meter event. The sophomore ran a personal best 10:33.72 which was over 20 seconds faster than his previous best to make it to state.

Dustin PRITCHETT will be a top contender in the discus event as he has the third best qualifying throw of 155' 7". This toss was a personal best for the big senior.

"We had many great performances and personal bests to add to our team point total," stated coach Brad ELLIOTT. "Coach WALLACE and I would like to thank our seniors (Austin COX, Harley HAMILTON, Dusty LYDEN, Dustin PRITCHETT, Alex SOBOTKA and Zach ZOLLMAN) for their leadership and contributions to the Raider track program. They will be missed as they move on to graduation and future pursuits."

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2012