Sunday, April 27, 2003

City takes relay title at Drake Relays

By Andy Hamilton
Iowa City Press-Citizen

The Little Hawks repeated their Drake Relays girls title Saturday under a clear blue sky at Drake Stadium, instead of a downpour.

"Last year was completely different," said City anchor Meggan Reed. "It was pouring down rain, it was cold, the conditions were opposite of what they were today, but it was nice to come out here with nice weather. There was actually a crowd out here this year because it's not raining."

Reed teamed up with Jennie Funk, Maggie Leyendecker and Nelle Trefz to give City its second victory of the weekend in 9 minutes, 20.35 seconds. Trefz also won Thursday's 3,000.

Reed, Funk and Trefz, along with Monica Mims, won the 4x800 last year and had their sights set on breaking West High's state record of 9:09.09 at the beginning of the season.

Leyendecker joined the team in place of Mims and an injury to Funk put that goal on hold.

A month ago, Funk didn't know if she'd even be able to compete at Drake. A stress fracture in her leg prevented the junior distance standout from competing early in the season.

"I really wanted to earn a spot on the relay," Funk said. "I wanted to earn it. I didn't want to just get it out of charity, and I did (earn it). I've been put in position before where I've been expected to carry my teammates. Today I felt like my teammates carried me."

Funk led off, Leyendecker followed and Trefz gave City the lead with a strong third leg.

"Nelle got out and opened up the lead for us and that helped out a lot," Reed said. "Our first two legs ran really well and kept our position, and we put all four legs together and that's what makes the relay."

Reed sealed the victory by crossing more than five seconds ahead of second-place Cedar Rapids Xavier's Erin Penticoff.

"It was so exciting to watch," Trefz said. "I was about to burst."

It was a different story for West High. The 4x800 team of Julia Frudden, Janet Dobyns, Claire Hall and Lynn Dobyns placed fourth, marking the best finish of the weekend for the Women of Troy.

West entered Drake with the state's best time in the 4x400, but failed to qualify for Saturday's finals. It also missed out on the shuttle hurdle and 4x100 finals.

Funk said City High was looking for its first breakthrough performance of the season this weekend.

The Little Hawks also got a second-place finish from Trefz in the 800, a third from Mims, Katie Krei, Virginia Dreier and Reed in the 4x400 and it took an all-time Iowa best in the shuttle hurdle relay from Mason City to keep the Little Hawks from another victory.

Emily Triplett, Annie Fraga, Tara Whiting and Maya Monitto-Webber finished in 1:02.66 - nearly a second faster than when City won the Drake shuttle hurdle relay last year, but Mason City crossed in 1:00.80.

"The field was really good this year," Triplett said. "Mason City's just an awesome team. We ran real fast. ... I'm really proud of our team for that."

City's 4x100 team of Triplett, Monitto-Webber, Dreier and Camille Jordan also placed sixth.

The Little Hawk boys 4x400 squad of Colin Swaney, Phil George, Phil Kenney and Ryan Grenko placed seventh.