Newton boys make huge statement at Drake Relays

DES MOINES — Senior Christian Ergenbright lined up on the track where he normally does for the 4x200-meter relay on Friday afternoon.

He walked off his steps and was getting into position to take the baton from senior Reilly Trease.

Then a Drake Relays official told him he couldn’t stand where he was at.

“I was a little confused. They said I had to start from a different spot and then 20 seconds later (Trease) is coming at me,” Ergenbright said. “I take my steps back from the red, and they said I have to start at the red. They moved me as the race started, but it was still our best handoff of the season.”

It also was the Cardinals’ best time of the season in the 4x200 relay. The foursome of junior Nick Thomason, Trease, Ergenbright and junior Caden Klein set a new school record and placed second overall with a time of 1 minute, 27.11 seconds.

Only an all-time best time from Ankeny Centennial was better as the Cardinals registered the second-fastest high school time in the event in meet history at the 115th Drake Relays.

“It’s not necessarily what we wanted,” Klein said. “We aren’t satisfied with second, but we are happy with it.

“It felt good. We all had good handoffs. Our time was fast.”

It was a big weekend for Klein, who qualified for the Drake Relays in five events but was limited to four.

He left Drake Stadium with four medals as he also captured third in the 400 hurdles, placed fifth in the 400 and took sixth in the 100.

Sophomore Nick Milburn medaled in the shot put with an eighth-place finish and the Cardinals’ 4x100 relay team ran a season-best time and finished in the top five among Class 3A programs.

“I’m good with what I got,” Milburn said. “It’s always harder to perform well in big meets, but it was solid. That’s my third-best throw ever so it’s hard to complain about that.”

Klein capped his big weekend with a bronze medal in the 400 hurdles on Saturday afternoon. His third-place finish was clocked in a career-best and school-record time of 52.66 seconds.

Klein was .26 seconds off a Drake Relays title as Lenox’s Gabe Funk won the race in 52.4. Centennial’s Cael Woods was the runner-up in 52.6.

“I’m a little disappointed because you always want to win, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” Klein said. “I’m happy I ran a PR. Those guys are really good athletes, and they’re seniors. I always have next year.

“It felt good. It felt strong. I came off the last two hurdles a little whacky, but it was fine.”

He competed in the 400 on Friday night. His time was clocked in 49.26, which was second in his heat. But three runners from the first heat were a little bit faster, including PCM’s Riley Graber (49.17) in fourth.

Johnston’s Jashua Anglo won the race from the second heat, but Center Point-Urbana’s Nathan Miller wasn’t far behind. Anglo (48.836) edged Miller (48.838) for the Relays title. Three athletes finished the race in under 49 seconds.

Klein, who ran the race from Lane 7, felt a huge wind gust as he hit the first turn.

“The first turn and the backstretch were super windy,” Klein said. “I wasn’t expecting that. But oh boy it hit me as soon as I turned the corner.”

Klein qualified for the finals in the 100 on Friday morning and then placed sixth in the final later in the day. He ran 10.79 in the prelims and went 10.78 in the finals. He was sixth in both races and placed third among 3A competitors.

West Des Moines Dowling Catholic’s Luke Nevitt won the race in 10.57. It took a 10.87 to qualify for the finals.

Klein said the starter took a longer time than normal between set and the gun. He also slipped off his blocks at the start of the final.

“That was disappointing to know I could have gone faster, but it is what it is,” Klein said. “Having the opportunity to compete for a Drake Relays flag is a dream. I’m grateful I had the chance to do that, and I tried to make the most of it.”

Milburn opened the Cardinals’ weekend in the shot put on Thursday afternoon. Competitors had three guaranteed throws and then the top nine after both flights got three more tosses in the finals.

Milburn was eighth heading into the finals and stayed in that position after a best throw of 54 feet, 5 1/2 inches. It was the third-best throw of his career, too. He advanced to the finals with a heave of 54-3.

Before this season, Milburn had never eclipsed 54 feet in the event. He went beyond that twice on Thursday and his best throw of the season is 56-10.

“I took a little break for a bit and re-loaded up,” Milburn said. “I didn’t throw at a few meets and went easier in practice. That helped me for sure. My max has shot up a lot.”

Clear Creek-Amana’s Landon Prince won the shot put with a toss of 61-10 3/4. Washington’s Greyson Hartman was the runner-up with a throw of 58-11 and Creston’s Tom Mikkelson took third with a heave of 56-2 3/4. All three could join Milburn in the 3A field at state later this season.

Trease was the first Cardinal on the blue oval on Friday morning. He competed in the 110 high hurdles and placed 23rd with a time of 15.08 seconds. That was fast enough for sixth in 3A.

Treynor’s Brady Wallace won the race after running 13.8 in the finals. It took a 14.58 to advance to the finals.

“That wasn’t my best race. I wasn’t seeded super high so I wasn’t expecting to win or anything, but I did want to PR and get another good race under my belt,” Trease said. “It is what it is. I’m here and can use the experience to get ready for state.”

The final event for the Cardinals came in the 4x100 relay. The foursome of Thomason, Trease, junior Ali Yahia and Ergenbright finished 18th in a season-best 43.17. It was the fifth-fastest time in 3A.

“It was the second time we’ve run that race with this group all year,” Thomason said. “I think you always hope for a better time, but it was almost perfect. The handoffs were pretty good, too.”

Yahia replaced Klein in the relay and competed at the Drake Relays for the first time. That can be challenging with the handoffs, but the Cardinals made it work the best they could.

“It was fun. They told me it would be intense, but we got a good time,” Yahia said.

Trease said there’s a reason the team runs the same four guys in the same order for most of their sprint relays.

“I’m pretty proud of Ali for stepping in and doing as well as he did,” said Trease, who also competed at Drake for the first time. “The handoffs were an issue because it’s usually the same four guys taking the handoffs. Ali and I worked hard on ours this week. I’m proud of how we did and proud of how the team did.”

Notes: Newton wore its new uniforms on Saturday. Thomason said the team got them on Friday night. Klein was handed his during his warm-up for the 400. “I didn’t have time to put it on last night, but wearing them today was pretty cool,” Klein said. “The uniforms are cool. They look good.” … The Cardinals placed eighth in the 4x200 last year at the state meet. It was almost the same guys who ran at Drake this season. “To go from eighth at state last year to second at Drake today is something you can be proud of,” Trease said. “If you get top three at Drake, you’re doing something right.”