East girls take second in 4x400
By Steve Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008
East's Shelby Houlihan hands off to Kathleen Reynolds in the 4x400 during the 2008 Iowa State Track and Field meet Saturday. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
DES MOINES -- Most years, a seventh-place finish by a Sioux City girls public school team in the Iowa State Track Meet would be hailed as a major accomplishment.
But after East High finished with 35 points in the Class 4A portion of the meet Saturday at Drake Stadium, the Black Raider girls were a bit crestfallen.
Especially a 4x400 team that had hoped to win a state title but had to settle for second to Waukee in a sizzling 3:56.44. The time was the second-fastest ever by a Sioux City school, but not quite quick enough to catch Waukee's 3:54.10.
In the Friday prelims, the East foursome of freshman Shelby Houlihan, senior Kathleen Reynolds, junior Emily McCarthy and sophomore Ellen Dougherty won a prelim heat in the city's all-time best 3:54.60. In another heat, Waukee ran 3:54.55.
"It's disappointing because we had our hearts set on winning the 4x400,'' said Dougherty. "But we're proud of what we did down here. We were just a little short.''
Earlier in the day, in the fastest girls state meet 800 meters ever, Dougherty finished third in 2:11.69 -- more than three seconds under the city record 2:14.93 she set at last year's Drake Relays -- and Houlihan was fifth in 2:12.60. The top five finishers, remarkably, all ran faster than the state meet record set just last year by West Des Moines Dowling's Katie Flood (2:12.17).
The race was won by junior Colette Gnade of Waukee in a record 2:10.12. And, Flood, the old record-holder had to settle for fourth (2:12.49) while her older sister, Betsy, a senior, was second (2:11.58) in the scorching race.
Dougherty, one of the slowest qualifiers from the regional with a 2:25.96, broke out to a big lead and led the race for 650 meters.
"My original plan was to follow Colette and hope for a big finish,'' said Dougherty. "But when the race started, I just felt a lot of energy and I told myself stay in front and go for it.
"I knew Gnade was back there, but not sure where.''
Gnade, a junior, turned in the fastest girls prep 800 time in country this spring.
Dougherty and Houlihan now rank 1-2 on the all-time Sioux City metro list in the 800.
Houlihan was also in the thick of a swift 1,500, trailing only Dowling's Flood sisters. Betsy Flood won in a record time of 4:33.76, the second-fastest prep time nationally in the event this spring.
Katie Flood was second in 4:35.27 and Houlihan was third in 4:38.67, erasing the city record of 4:39.46 as last month's Drake Relays runner-up (behind Betsy Flood).
"The 1,500 is my favorite because I've got a little more endurance,'' said Houlihan. "I knew the Floods would take the lead, but I feel good about this because I beat Colette Gnade and she beat me by about six inches in the regional meet.''
Individually, West's Gabriel Williams registered the best Sioux City finish of the day, taking second in the girls 100 in :12.43 to Faith Burt of Cedar Falls. Burt, who finished her career as a 13-time gold medalist, won the century for the fourth year in a row with a time of 12.35 seconds.
Later, with Rae Twohig anchoring, the Wolverines finished third in the 4x100 relay in 49.39 seconds, the foursome's quickest fully automatic clocking. Waukee won in 48.99 seconds.
"We knew it was going to be quick, but we gave it our best,'' said Twohig, a sophomore.
Monique Pearson started, Williams ran second and freshman Cheyanne Simon handed to Twohig.
Just two Sioux City boys competed in Saturday finals. East's Andy Dougherty was seventh in the 200 (:22.70) and West's Anthony Henriks was 23rd in the 1,600.
Iowa City West won the 4A girls team title and Pleasant Valley won the boys crown.
But after East High finished with 35 points in the Class 4A portion of the meet Saturday at Drake Stadium, the Black Raider girls were a bit crestfallen.
Especially a 4x400 team that had hoped to win a state title but had to settle for second to Waukee in a sizzling 3:56.44. The time was the second-fastest ever by a Sioux City school, but not quite quick enough to catch Waukee's 3:54.10.
In the Friday prelims, the East foursome of freshman Shelby Houlihan, senior Kathleen Reynolds, junior Emily McCarthy and sophomore Ellen Dougherty won a prelim heat in the city's all-time best 3:54.60. In another heat, Waukee ran 3:54.55.
"It's disappointing because we had our hearts set on winning the 4x400,'' said Dougherty. "But we're proud of what we did down here. We were just a little short.''
Earlier in the day, in the fastest girls state meet 800 meters ever, Dougherty finished third in 2:11.69 -- more than three seconds under the city record 2:14.93 she set at last year's Drake Relays -- and Houlihan was fifth in 2:12.60. The top five finishers, remarkably, all ran faster than the state meet record set just last year by West Des Moines Dowling's Katie Flood (2:12.17).
The race was won by junior Colette Gnade of Waukee in a record 2:10.12. And, Flood, the old record-holder had to settle for fourth (2:12.49) while her older sister, Betsy, a senior, was second (2:11.58) in the scorching race.
Dougherty, one of the slowest qualifiers from the regional with a 2:25.96, broke out to a big lead and led the race for 650 meters.
"My original plan was to follow Colette and hope for a big finish,'' said Dougherty. "But when the race started, I just felt a lot of energy and I told myself stay in front and go for it.
"I knew Gnade was back there, but not sure where.''
Gnade, a junior, turned in the fastest girls prep 800 time in country this spring.
Dougherty and Houlihan now rank 1-2 on the all-time Sioux City metro list in the 800.
Houlihan was also in the thick of a swift 1,500, trailing only Dowling's Flood sisters. Betsy Flood won in a record time of 4:33.76, the second-fastest prep time nationally in the event this spring.
Katie Flood was second in 4:35.27 and Houlihan was third in 4:38.67, erasing the city record of 4:39.46 as last month's Drake Relays runner-up (behind Betsy Flood).
"The 1,500 is my favorite because I've got a little more endurance,'' said Houlihan. "I knew the Floods would take the lead, but I feel good about this because I beat Colette Gnade and she beat me by about six inches in the regional meet.''
Individually, West's Gabriel Williams registered the best Sioux City finish of the day, taking second in the girls 100 in :12.43 to Faith Burt of Cedar Falls. Burt, who finished her career as a 13-time gold medalist, won the century for the fourth year in a row with a time of 12.35 seconds.
Later, with Rae Twohig anchoring, the Wolverines finished third in the 4x100 relay in 49.39 seconds, the foursome's quickest fully automatic clocking. Waukee won in 48.99 seconds.
"We knew it was going to be quick, but we gave it our best,'' said Twohig, a sophomore.
Monique Pearson started, Williams ran second and freshman Cheyanne Simon handed to Twohig.
Just two Sioux City boys competed in Saturday finals. East's Andy Dougherty was seventh in the 200 (:22.70) and West's Anthony Henriks was 23rd in the 1,600.
Iowa City West won the 4A girls team title and Pleasant Valley won the boys crown.
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