Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Ford Washburn had waited three years to win a state title.

On Thursday at the State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Washburn finally decided he had waited long enough.

After hanging behind the leaders for the first six laps Washburn exploded over the final 800 to win the Class 4A 3,200 in a time of 9:05.35.

“It’s awesome, it’s so exciting,” Washburn said of winning his first state title. “I’ve been dreaming of this for the last three years.”

The wait for state gold was tough for Washburn who was a state qualifier in the 1,600 a year ago.

Waiting behind the pack led by West Des Moines Dowling senior Will Ryan for the first 2,400 on Thursday was equally challenging for the City High junior.

“It was very scary, I didn’t think that Will Ryan was going to take it out like that, I wasn’t really expecting that,” Washburn said. “I knew that I could outkick him so as long as I was close enough I knew I was fine but it was hard to lay back.”

Waiting was all part of the plan for Washburn who has exploded onto the scene as one of the state’s elite distance runners this spring.

Washburn was fifth after five laps, third after six and trailed Ryan by nearly 10 meters with a lap to go.

“I knew they were going out really fast so I just figured they would die off and slow down,” Washburn said. “I tried not to let them get too far away. Those last two laps they were close enough I knew I could catch up.”

That’s when Washburn took off.

He chased down Ryan midway through the backstretch while ripping off a 58.9 final 400 on his way to the title.

Washburn is the first City High 3,200 champion since Pete Simons in 1990.

“That (final 400) was pretty quick and that’s kind of what I was hoping for,” Washburn said. “I was saving a lot of my energy for that last lap and I really was trying to compete with him.”

Washburn finished more than eight seconds in front of runner-up Jacob Mumey of Pleasant Valley.

Ryan was third in 9:15.48 followed by Linn-Mar senior Hayden Kuhn in 9:17.19 and West High senior Alex McKane who was fifth in 9:20.57.

“It’s so great to run against those guys, they really push me to be better,” Washburn said. “You could really see it today.”

The state title for Washburn kicked off what was a strong opening day for City High that closed with the Little Hawks atop the 4A team standings with 25.5 points.

Matt Schaeckenbach finished fourth in the high jump, Tae Shon McDaniels was fifth in the discus and Jovan Harris was seventh in the 400 for City High which scored in all five events Thursday.

“It was really exciting to see Ford winning the 3,200 as I was jumping,” Schaeckenback said. “I was screaming my lungs out for him. I’m just happy I could get some points for the team.

Schaeckenbach was one of five athletes to clear 6-6 on Thursday finishing in a tie with Ankeny junior Jamison Patton.

Sam Skarich of North Scott won the title clearing 6-8.

“I’m very happy, Schaeckenbach said. “There were a lot of good jumpers and it was very difficult. It was a great competition with a lot of good guys.”

Harris finished seventh in the 400 in 50.09 and the City High 4×800 relay team of Truman Thompson, Ammon Smith, Patrick Sarsfield and Washburn finished fourth in 7:58.82.

McDaniels placed fifth in the discus with a mark of 169-2 as City High closed with 25.5 points, six more than second-place West Des Moines Dowling.

“Getting points for my team makes it more special,” McDaniels said. “I wanted to get the school record and that didn’t happen but I’m still good with what I did today.”

Class 4A State Track and Field Meet

At Drake Stadium

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. City High 25.5; 2. West Des Moines Dowling 19; 3. North Scott 15; 4. Ankeny 14.5; 5. Sioux City North 13; 6. Indianola 11; 6. Linn-Mar 11; 8. Liberty High 10; 9. Ames 8; 9. Urbandale 8; 9. Cedar Falls 8; 9. Pleasant Valley 8; 17. West High 4.

State champion; area qualifiers

High jump – 1. Sam Skarich (North Scott) 6-8; 4. Matt Schaeckenbach (City High) 6-6; 16. Jeremiah Madlock (Liberty High) 6-0; 19. Daniel Robinson (West High) 5-10

Discus – 1. Walker Whalen (Indianola) 204-9; 5. Tae Shon McDaniels (City High) 169-2

400 – 1. Tyrese Miller (Ankeny) 48.71; 2. Luke Meyers (Liberty High) 49.58; 7. Jovan Harris (City High) 50.09

3,200 – 1. Ford Washburn (City High) 9:05.35; 5. Alex McKane (West High) 9:20.57; 19. Noah Carey (City High) 10:14.54; 22. Seth Cheney (West High) 10:30.75

4×800 – 1. Sioux City North 7:44.64; 4. City High (Truman Thompson, Ammon Smith, Patrick Sarsfield, Ford Washburn) 7:58.82; 7. Liberty High (Gavin Keeney, Jordan Robinson, Aidan Decker, Christian Montover) 8:03.57; 12. West High (Caden Noeller, Mason Van Waning, Moustafa Tiea, Alex McKane) 8:11.43

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