DES MOINES – Track season 2024 began under cloudy, wet and cool skies and ended under sunny, dry and warm temperatures on the Blue Oval of Drake Stadium Saturday. North Mahaska scored points in three of the 12 events entered. In the team race, the boys tied for 35th with six points while the girls tied for 46th with four.
In Friday’s final day of competition, senior Brayden Veiseth saw his stellar high school running career end with runs in the 800 and 1,600 meters. He placed 11th overall in the 800 in 2 minutes .94 seconds and 15th in the 1,600 in 4:37.11. Londen Bendgen of Woodbine won both races. He finished in 1:56.26 and 4:17.37. Veiseth’s times were personal bests.
North Mahaska scored seventh place points in the 1,600-meter relay final. The team of Lucas Nunnikhoven, Kaleb Stout, Nate Sampson and Andy Knockel finished in 3:30.0.
Nunnikhoven, Stout and Knockel joined lead off Hunter Wernli in the sprint medley relay. The quartet covered the distance in 1:39.17 to place 22nd overall.
Coaches Phil and Amy Griffin saw many excellent performances and 12 events making the state field of 24. The 1,600-meter relay for the boys have broken the school record twice on their way to state.
“We have been happy with all the boys’ efforts,” the Griffins. “Sometimes, they can’t match or exceed their personal bests which is hard for the boys to take.”
Knockel had a solid appearance at state running the 200 and 400 meters and anchoring the sprint medley and 1,600-meter relay. He made scored points in the 400 and the 1,600 relay.
“Sometimes the boys perform above their best, such as Andy did. Making it to this level is proof the boys have worked, trained and dedicated themselves to get better.”
Linder made her first appearance at state in three events scoring a fourth in the long jump with a leap of 16-feet 4-inches to score four points for the Warhawks. Linder was 13th in the 400 hurdles in 1:08.85.
Another entrance on the female side was Emmerson Jedlicka finishing 21st in the 3,000 in 11:52.02.
The girls’ 1,600-meter relay team of Kayla Readshaw, Alivia Schock, Linder and Aly Steil ran 17th overall in the prelims in 4:18.53.
Although the boys will lose several competitors due to graduation (Knockel, Sampson and Veiseth), they have set a standard for future years. North Mahaska boys and girls will have a strong group of returning stars to make another run next season.
