The State Track and Field meet begins a three day run today at Drake University in Des Moines.  Classes 3A and 2A will be in action this morning, with 4A and 1A in the late afternoon session.  Oskaloosa’s Sophia Dykstra will be competing in the discus today—which she says she likes better than the shot put.

“Discus is more of a flowing, type of graceful kind of movement than shot.  It feels super smooth and really pretty when you get in the circle and through the circle and through your spin really well.  It just feels really phenomenal when you get that big throw.”

Dykstra also qualified for State in the shot.  Oskaloosa’s Faith DeRonde also qualified for State in the discus and shot.  Oskaloosa’s Maleah Walker will run today in the 200 meter preliminaries.  She will also compete in the 400, 4 by 400 relay and long jump.  Walker talks about her goals for State.

“My goal is just to go there and do my best.  I’m not expecting anything.. or expecting myself to a certain standard.  I’m just going there to have fun.”

Oskaloosa’s boys have the day off, as the events they’ve qualified in—the 1600 and distance medley relay–are not being held Thursday in Class 3A.