PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER – GMG’s Jabari Woodbury, right, closes in on the finish line in the Class 1A boys’ 400-meter dash during Thursday’s timed final. Woodbury clocked in at 50.62 seconds to earn sixth place.

DES MOINES — GMG’s Jabari Woodbury became a 1A state track medalist Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium, taking sixth in the boys 400-meter dash in 50.62 for a new personal best.

Woodbury won the first heat – smashing his No. 17 seed coming into the event.

“I usually start pretty slow but today I thought I started pretty good,” Woodbury said. “This makes me want to work harder and get higher up in the rankings.”

Woodbury hopes to dip down sub-50 and try and chase down the school record in his senior season.

G-R girls

G-R's Kennedy Brant, right, competes on Thursday at the state track meet. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Gladbrook-Reinbeck had a pair of freshmen make their high school state debuts on Thursday.

Elly Sieh was 20th in the long jump with her best mark going 15 feet, 1 inch.

Kennedy Brant was 24th in the 100-meter dash prelims in 13.57 and turned around soon after to do the 400 in 1:00.34 for 11th place in 1A.

Rebel long-jumper Elly Sieh competes on Thursday during the state track meet in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER