Heelan senior's last try a good one
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, May 20, 2008
For the longest time, Bishop Heelan's Kyle Poss figured his senior year in track just wasn't to be.
"Last fall, I hurt a knee in cross country and then I was diagnosed with mononucleosis in March and got real sick,'' said the Sioux City Journal's Metro Athlete of the Week. "During the time I was sick I lost 20 pounds and dropped to about 155.
"I didn't have any energy. I think I missed eight days of school and when I was home all I did was sleep all day. It was real frustrating because I was hoping to have a good last fling in track.
"There came a time when I'd pretty much decided I would just quit running and give up because it didn't seem worth it and I wasn't in good shape at all and I was questioning my dedication. I told my coaches that, but we talked about it.
"So, I thought I'd give it one last try and I'm glad I did.''
All's well that ends well.
In the Class 3A state meet last weekend in Des Moines, the 18-year-old son of Jeff and Roberta Poss finished third in the 800 meters in 1:56.39, just missing the school record of 1:56.11 by Noel Maxey in 1993.
That wasn't only courageous effort by the Comeback Kid.
Before the weekend was out, he uncorked a 1:57 800 anchor to help the Crusaders to fourth in the medley relay, zipped a 1:57.2 carry to bring Heelan home in fifth in the 4x800 relay and capped his performance by contributing a :50.6 carry to a 4x400 baton crew that finished third in 3:24.55.
"I'm just thankful my coaches and teammates had faith in me because I do love to run,'' said Poss. "Everything that happened in the state meet was kind of a shock to me.
"I really didn't think something like that would happen. Just qualifying was more than I expected three weeks ago.''
Heelan Coach Don Oberle was amazed that Poss could make such a brilliant comeback.
"It has been a long time since we've had a young man in Sioux City run three 800s like Kyle did,'' said Oberle. "There have been years when the entire city didn't have a guy break two minutes in the half.
"You have to admire Kyle for his determination. A lot of kids would have given up after going through what he did, but he gutted it out and proved he's a competitor.
"It makes you wonder what would have happened had he been healthy all spring.''
In Class 3A, the distance star of the meet was Charles City's Isaac Wendland, who won his third straight 800 title and fourth straight 1,600 gold medal.
He won the 800 in 1:53.74 and Chad Rutledge of Algona wound up second in 1:56;03, running in another section.
Preston Ives, Nate Berger and Brendan Dougherty ran with Poss in the 4x400 and the same foursome hooked up in the medley.
Matt Lord, Christopher Rickert and Matt Casey got the baton to Poss in the 4x800.
Poss figured the bout with mono would cost him an opportunity to compete at the college level, not to mention the offer of a potential college scholarship.
"I'm hoping the weekend will create a few opportunities,'' said Poss. "Morningside has talked to me and somebody from Graceland College (Lamoni) came up to talk to me after one of the races in Des Moines.
"I'll get stronger and stronger and I'll be ready for track, somewhere, next spring.''
Poss began his comeback in serious fashion at the Sioux City Relays, hoping Heelan to third in the 4x800 relay. Then, he ran a 1:58.5 anchor on a winning 4x800 effort in the Missouri River Activities Conference meet.
Special Mention
GIRLS TENNIS
Maddie Warder, West: The sophomore, who has played No. 1 singles for the Wolverines for two years, qualified for the 2A state tourney for the second straight year with a second-place regional finish. She'll take a 15-3 to the state tourney.
GIRLS TRACK
Ellen Dougherty, East: The sophomore finished third in the 400 (:56.07) and 800 (2:11.69), setting metro all-time bests in each case and also ran a leg on a 4x400 relay that set an all-time city best of 3:54.60 in the event prelims at the 4A state meet.
"Last fall, I hurt a knee in cross country and then I was diagnosed with mononucleosis in March and got real sick,'' said the Sioux City Journal's Metro Athlete of the Week. "During the time I was sick I lost 20 pounds and dropped to about 155.
"I didn't have any energy. I think I missed eight days of school and when I was home all I did was sleep all day. It was real frustrating because I was hoping to have a good last fling in track.
"There came a time when I'd pretty much decided I would just quit running and give up because it didn't seem worth it and I wasn't in good shape at all and I was questioning my dedication. I told my coaches that, but we talked about it.
"So, I thought I'd give it one last try and I'm glad I did.''
All's well that ends well.
In the Class 3A state meet last weekend in Des Moines, the 18-year-old son of Jeff and Roberta Poss finished third in the 800 meters in 1:56.39, just missing the school record of 1:56.11 by Noel Maxey in 1993.
That wasn't only courageous effort by the Comeback Kid.
Before the weekend was out, he uncorked a 1:57 800 anchor to help the Crusaders to fourth in the medley relay, zipped a 1:57.2 carry to bring Heelan home in fifth in the 4x800 relay and capped his performance by contributing a :50.6 carry to a 4x400 baton crew that finished third in 3:24.55.
"I'm just thankful my coaches and teammates had faith in me because I do love to run,'' said Poss. "Everything that happened in the state meet was kind of a shock to me.
"I really didn't think something like that would happen. Just qualifying was more than I expected three weeks ago.''
Heelan Coach Don Oberle was amazed that Poss could make such a brilliant comeback.
"It has been a long time since we've had a young man in Sioux City run three 800s like Kyle did,'' said Oberle. "There have been years when the entire city didn't have a guy break two minutes in the half.
"You have to admire Kyle for his determination. A lot of kids would have given up after going through what he did, but he gutted it out and proved he's a competitor.
"It makes you wonder what would have happened had he been healthy all spring.''
In Class 3A, the distance star of the meet was Charles City's Isaac Wendland, who won his third straight 800 title and fourth straight 1,600 gold medal.
He won the 800 in 1:53.74 and Chad Rutledge of Algona wound up second in 1:56;03, running in another section.
Preston Ives, Nate Berger and Brendan Dougherty ran with Poss in the 4x400 and the same foursome hooked up in the medley.
Matt Lord, Christopher Rickert and Matt Casey got the baton to Poss in the 4x800.
Poss figured the bout with mono would cost him an opportunity to compete at the college level, not to mention the offer of a potential college scholarship.
"I'm hoping the weekend will create a few opportunities,'' said Poss. "Morningside has talked to me and somebody from Graceland College (Lamoni) came up to talk to me after one of the races in Des Moines.
"I'll get stronger and stronger and I'll be ready for track, somewhere, next spring.''
Poss began his comeback in serious fashion at the Sioux City Relays, hoping Heelan to third in the 4x800 relay. Then, he ran a 1:58.5 anchor on a winning 4x800 effort in the Missouri River Activities Conference meet.
Special Mention
GIRLS TENNIS
Maddie Warder, West: The sophomore, who has played No. 1 singles for the Wolverines for two years, qualified for the 2A state tourney for the second straight year with a second-place regional finish. She'll take a 15-3 to the state tourney.
GIRLS TRACK
Ellen Dougherty, East: The sophomore finished third in the 400 (:56.07) and 800 (2:11.69), setting metro all-time bests in each case and also ran a leg on a 4x400 relay that set an all-time city best of 3:54.60 in the event prelims at the 4A state meet.
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