Today is the third and final day of the 2023 Coed State Track & Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Greene County wrapped up its boys’ events yesterday, but the girls have freshman Kaycee Pittman in the 800 meter run this morning and the 4 x 400 meter relay this afternoon. Pittman joined seniors Katrina Heupel, Natalie Heupel, and Olivia Shannon in Friday night’s Class 2A preliminary of the 4 x 400 and the quartet came through with the seventh fastest preliminary time of 4:07.55, a season best. Only the fastest eight times from the field of 24 advance. Greene County was second in heat one and had to hope their time was good enough to make the final, a first in the 4 x 400 since becoming Greene County more than a decade ago.
The Heupel twins, Shannon, and senior Kamryn Sanders placed seventh in the 4 x 200 meter relay Friday afternoon, and those same four girls just missed advancing to the finals of the 4 x 100, as they were ninth in :51.12. The 4 x 200 meter time of 1:46.90 was by far a season best and they ran that in section two of the three section timed final. After winning that section, the Rams had to hope their time was better than most of the eight teams in the third section, and it was. Plus, it’s the fastest in the years competing as Greene County.
Natalie Heupel was seventh on Thursday in the 400 meter dash, so the Rams have a chance to place top eight in at least three events at State, something that hasn’t happened with much frequency in recent years.
Girls’ head coach Derek Merk told Raccoon Valley Radio “We were very excited to see what the 4 x 400 could do without having a 4 x 100 right before it, which has been the case in the regular season. Natalie started us off with a sub 60 leg and Olivia kept the lead with a sub 61. That put the last two girls in a great position the remainder of the race. Pittman showed great poise as a freshman, and Katina showed what an experienced senior can do at anchor. I think we are going to have an opportunity to bump up a spot or two in the finals.”
Jesse Miller threw the discus on Friday and his best toss of 148′ 3″ was good for eleventh place. Only the top eight score team points. Miller was eighth on Thursday in the shot put. The only boys’ event on the track this year was the distance medley relay that finished in 21st place after qualifying 24th with Camden Strennen, Richard Daugherty, Nick Stream, and Drew Wolterman. The Rams were timed in 3:45.48. Head coach Chad Morton said he was very proud of the effort o the boys at State. We’re going to miss our seniors, Richard and Jesse next year. they have been great for our program.”