The ACGC track and field teams will be sending fifteen total entries to Drake Stadium this week for the 2019 Iowa High School Co-Ed State Track and Field Meet. Today we preview the three athletes competing in middle and long distance events.
Senior Noah Nelsen and junior Kate Crawford have dominated the long-distance disciplines all season. Nelsen will be making his second straight appearance in both the 1600 and 3200. Last year he set the ACGC record in the 3200 with a time of 9:57.37, finishing in 4th. He closed out the weekend with a 12th place finish in the 1600. Crawford will be competing in the same four events for the third straight year: 800, 1500, 3000, and distance medley relay. In her previous eight showings at the state meet, Crawford has never finished outside the top 20.
Crawford nearly won the 3000 last year, before Mid-Prairie’s Marie Hostetler passed her in the late stages of the race. Hostetler and Crawford will meet on the blue oval once again this week. Crawford knows it will take her best effort to come away with the title. “It’s definitely going to take everything I have and I’m going to have to run with my heart instead of my legs. It’s definitely a goal of mine to stick with her so, we’ll just see what happens.”
Nelsen lists his goals for the week. “I’m hoping to reset the school record in the 3200. Hoping to go below 9:50. So I think that will put me at near fourth. There’s just a great pack of three up there that are heads above everybody else. I’m looking forward to competing with the great group of guys that are in my time range. For the mile, I just want to reset my personal best. Hoping to get down to the low 4:33s. Maybe if I’m feeling it that day, maybe go below 4:30.”
Crawford will kick things off with the 3000 tomorrow at 9:40am, with Nelsen running the 3200 at 10:10. Their other solo races will be on Saturday. The 800 meter finals are in the morning with the 1500 and 1600 set for Saturday afternoon. Senior Clay Billheimer will also be running in the boys 800 meter final for the Chargers.