Photo by Jeff Yoder / Click here to view Drake Relays photo gallery

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – There was no hesitation from Gabe Caruthers when asked about his reaction to the news the 400 was being added to the high school lineup at the 110th Drake Relays lineup.

“I think I’ve been quoted as saying this before but I said, ‘oh man, heck yeah lets tackle this,” Caruthers said. “I was excited of course.”

The West High senior made the most of his only opportunity to compete in his signature event at the Drake Relays on Friday.

Caruthers placed fourth in 49.12 in a strong field in the first ever Drake Relays high school 400 meters at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

“Coming in off of a quad injury from Forwald last week and to come back and run a 49.1 I was happy,” Caruthers said. “Clearly not my best since I’ve gone sub-49 but none the less as it stands fourth all-time so nothing for me to complain about it.”

Bettendorf senior Darien Porter pulled away from the pack over the final 100 meters to win the inaugural prep 400 in 47.94.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton junior Jorma Schwedler was runner-up in 48.39 and Waukee sophomore Aaron Smith was third in 49.0.

Caruthers was .30 off his season-best time of .48.82 that ranked second in the state entering Friday.

Porter, Caruthers, Smith and Schwedler entered as the only athletes in the state to break 49 seconds this season and the top four seeds and backed that up on the track.

“One reason that I don’t check quikstats too often is I don’t want to psych myself out but looking at the heat sheet I saw four guys going sub 49,” Caruthers said. “On one hand it’s the oh no I’m not the only stud out here moment but at the same time it’s really exciting going against people that are faster and that helps push me a lot.”

Steva Runner-up In Hurdles

West High senior Peyton Steva posted a career-best time twice in a span of a few hours on Friday on her way to a runner-up finish in the 100 hurdles.

Steva posted the fastest time in the prelims with a 14.33 and ran the same time in the finals to finish runner-up to Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln senior Darby Thomas who won the event in 14.3.

West High also got a top-five finish from junior Salima Omari who was fifth in the shot put in 39-7 ¼.

Tipton senior Jamie Kofron completed a sweep of the throwing events with a title in the shot put with a mark of 45-2 ¼.

Drake Relays

Individual results (Event winner; area participants)

100 – 1. Ardell Inlay (Sioux City East) 10.88; 14. Gabe Caruthers (West High) 11.17

400 – 1. Darien Porter (Bettendorf) 47.94; 4. Gabe Caruthers (West High) 49.12; 10. Drake Woody (Liberty High) 50.62

800 – 1. Joe Schaefer (Johnston) 1:54.13; 13. Daniel Brown (City High) 2:01.59

110 hurdles – 1. Trent Davis (Linn-Mar) 13.99; 21. Oisin Leopold (City High) 15.27

Distance medley relay – 1. Urbandale 3:28.33; 10. City High (Kaleba Jack, Jovan Harris, Max DePrenger, Daniel Brown) 3:56.76; 15. Liberty High (Kelby Telander, Tayshaun McGee, Drake Woody, Bo Gryp) 3:38.88

4×200 – 1. West Des Moines Valley 1:27.76; 13. City High (Kaleba Jack, Max DePrenger, Jovan Harris, Dahron Fouch) 1:30.44

4×800 – 1. Johnston 7:58.66; 16. City High (Ry Threlkeld-Wiegand, Matt Taylor, Owen Jones, Charlie Maxwell) 8:30.54

Discus – 1. Cam Jones (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) 178-5; 22. Landon Green (West High) 138-5

Long jump – 1. Parker Kiewiet (Dike-New Hartford) 22-8; 12. Jaquel Davis (Liberty High) 20-7 ¼; 19. Dahron Fouch (City High) 19-5 ¾; 20. Kaleba Jack (City High) 19-4 ¾