Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – A year after making her state meet debut in the discus Rachel Haack earned her first career state medal in the event on Thursday.

Afterwards Haack couldn’t help but think of the future.

“I really hope I can carry this experience on to next year when I’m an upperclassman,” Haack said. “Having this experience under your belt and being able to come out here and perform well I think will help down the road.”

Haack has been on the fast track to success.

The City High standout qualified for the state meet last season as a freshman placing 17^th.

On Thursday, Haack took a big step forward finishing fifth in the discus at the Class 4A state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines with a throw of 130-3.

Delilah Subsin of Ottumwa won the title with a toss of 141-1 while Gabrielle Ragins of Pleasant Valley was runner-up at 140-2 and Reese Goodlet of Pleasant Valley was third with a throw of 138-11.

Kylee Hill of Burlington was fourth with a throw of 137-10.

“It feels awesome,” Haack said. “I was just happy to be here and have this opportunity to come out here and throw, this is what I love.”

Haack’s best throw at state last season was 108-6.

Her first throw on Thursday was just 79-10 but the sophomore responded with a toss of 129-10 to reach finals.

“My first throw was probably one of my worst throws but I told myself I had more throws,” Haack said. “I picked myself up and I made finals.”

The fifth-place effort of 130-3 for Haack came on her first attempt in finals.

It is the mental piece of throwing that Haack says she has improved on the most from last season.

She hopes to take another big step forward next season.

“I think I’ve learned a lot mentally, how to put yourself back up together,” Haack said. “I’ve had a lot of coaches tell me a lot about technique but also how to perform mentally as an athlete and I think I can still improve with a lot of things.”

VeDepo Earns First Medal

Liberty High freshman Chelsea VeDepo didn’t waste any time starting her state medal collection finishing seventh in the Class 4A 400 on Thursday in her state meet debut.

VeDepo clocked a career-best time of 57.54 on her way to the seventh-place finish as the time six finishers all ran 57.3 or faster.

Waukee senior Anjelena Carder won the 400 in a time of 55.52.

Class 4A State Meet

At Drake Stadium in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Pleasant Valley 24; 2. Johnston 19; 3. West Des Moines Valley 18; 4. Ankeny 14; 5. Dubuque Hempstead 13; 6. Ankeny Centennial 11; 6. Waukee 11; 6. Waukee Northwest 11; 9. Linn-Mar 10; 9. North Scott 10; 9. Ottumwa 10

Individual results (Event winner; area participants)

3,000 – 1. Addison Dorenkamp (West Des Moines Valley) 9:30.64; 19. Nicole Peterson (City High) 10:54.06

4×800 – 1. Pleasant Valley 8:59.53; 21. City High (Naomi Downing-Sherer, Claire Locher, Lucy Sherburne, Abigail Burns) 9:59.96; 23. Liberty High (Carleigh Maher, Bridget Canton, Clara Welch, Madelyn Johnson) 10:19.98

400 – 1. Anjelena Carder (Waukee) 55.52; 7. Chelsea VeDepo (Liberty High) 57.54; 9. Natalie Ramsey (Liberty High) 59.06

High jump – 1. Maia Denge-Hagen (Linn-Mar) 5-6; 11. Sophia Austen (West High) 5-0

Discus – 1. Delilah Subsin (Ottumwa) 141-1; 5. Rachel Haack (City High) 130-3; 10. Hannah Braun (City High) 116-9

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