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GMG’s Woodbury heads to state

GMG & G-R athletes compete at state qualifier in Hudson on May 11

Sophomore Jabari Woodbury of GMG takes off from the blocks during the boys' 400-meter dash on Thursday, May 12, as part of the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet held in Hudson. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
G-R Sophomore Austin Vaverka competes in the long jump field event on Thursday, May 12, in Hudson during the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet. Ratliff finished 9th with a jump of 17-feet-11.25-inches. –Photos by Ruby F. Bodeker
GMG Sophomore Adelyn Sienknecht competes in the shot put field event on Thursday, May 12, in Hudson during the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet. Sienknecht finished sixth in Hudson with a put of 31-feet-3.25-inches. She also finished eighth in the discus throw. Although she missed qualifying for state this year, Sienknecht has had a stellar track and field season for the Wolverines – finishing in the top 8 at multiple meets and laying the foundation for a future appearance at the state championships. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
PHOTO BY RUBY F. BODEKER
GMG Senior Mykel Ratliff competes in the long jump field event on Thursday, May 12, in Hudson during the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet. Ratliff finished 13th with a jump of 17-feet-¼-inch. –Photos by Ruby F. Bodeker

This past Thursday, May 12, at the Class 1A State Track Qualifying Meet in Hudson, GMG Sophomore Jabari Woodbury punched his ticket to state for the first time – the only GMG athlete to do so this season.

Woodbury qualified in the boys’ 400-meter dash by taking second place in the race with a finish of 53:03, just behind BCLUW’s Connor Lynch who finished first with a time of 52:15.

By not taking first in the event Woodbury did not automatically qualify for state, however, following the completion of several qualifying meets on Friday which had been postponed due to Thursday’s extreme temperatures, Woodbury learned he qualified late Friday evening based on time.

This will be Woodbury’s first appearance at the state championships. He is scheduled to compete Thursday, May 19, at 1:40 p.m. in the Section 1 timed finals at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Also in Woodbury’s section is Nashua-Plainfield’s Drew Wilken who took third at the Hudson qualifier, finishing just behind Woodbury with a time of 53.08.

The state record for the Class 1A boys 400-meter dash was set by Preston’s (East Valley Community School District) Jordan Cornilsen in 2007 – a finish of 48.32.

2022 Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships

The 2022 Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships will take place Thursday, May 19, through Saturday, May 21, in Des Moines at Drake Stadium. Medals will be awarded for the first eight finishes in every event. Boy individual and relay champions will also receive a hat for their accomplishments. Three trophies will be awarded in each class including both a boys’ and girl’s wheelchair trophy.

Spectator tickets cost $10 per day for the state meet and must be purchased via Hometown Ticketing: https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/