The G-R girls sprint medley relay team of Elly Sieh, Kennedy Brant, Dylan Mathern and Blake Mathern poses with the baton after last Saturday's race at state in Des Moines. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

DES MOINES — State track Saturday sees all classes and competition come together and celebrate the sport of track and field. Enjoying the atmosphere was something all three Class 1A area entries partook in during the final day of the Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships.

Anchoring home the Gladbrook-Reinbeck girls sprint medley relay was a tired Kennedy Brant to a time of 1 minute, 57.02 seconds. The Rebels’ sports star finished her fourth event of the weekend at the completion of a race, leading the quartet of Blake Mathern, Dylan Mathern, Elly Sieh, and herself to a 23rd-place finish.

Finishing right behind the Rebels in the sprint medley was BCLUW’s team of Brinna Benson, Klayre Gallentine, Katelynn Bales and Raegan Crawford in a time of 1:58.83. The performance placed the group in 24th place and served as a great experience for the team with smiles aplenty.

“I think that for me and Klayre, it’s our last race. The mentality of just what do we have to lose, might as well just go out there.
 We qualified, might as well have a little bit of fun while we’re out there” said Crawford.

Much of the same sentiments were echoed by Klayre herself.

“I think we had the most fun just because when we went into districts, we were not supposed to make it in this race, like whatsoever,” she said. “So coming in here we had nothing to lose, because no one expected us to be here, so it was kind of just go out, run our times we normally run and just have fun with it”

Cayden White, also from BCLUW, rounded out the 1A action with his bid in the 800. White ran into a bit of trouble with a fall during his first of two runs down the backstretch.

In good spirits despite the fall, White made lemonade out of lemons.

“Honestly, it’s a little funny,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets. It’s going to be something I remember and the memories are what it’s all about.”

White finished 23rd in 2:05.32 to cap off his track and field career.