Eagle girls send seven entries to state meet

Girls track

     Seven Midland entries, in six events, will travel to Drake Stadium to compete in the State Class 1A Girls Track and Field Meet, as a result of state qualifying action.

     The Eagles finished sixth as a team with 61 points, and had a pair of double qualifiers during the State Qualifying Meet Thursday, May 11 in Central City.

     “Overall I was very proud of the girls,” Midland coach Ryan Luensman said. “Not only with the results, but how they approached the day and competed. They are just plain tough.

     “Midland will be well represented at the state meet, and I feel we have the program going in the right direction.”

     Libertie Uppena earned another trip to Des Moines by winning the shot put with a distance of 37-foot-4.75; and finishing fourth in the discus with 111-1. Jaelynn Folkers qualified by taking third in the 1,500 in 5:16.28, and finishing second in the 3,000, 11:32.04.

     “Libertie did a great job of staying calm and making adjustments throughout the day in both events,” Luensman said. “Jaelynn had a very solid day of distance running. She has already broken our 3,000 school record and is about three seconds from breaking our 1,500 record as well.”

     Midland had two qualifiers in the 400-meter run: Drew Jensen, who won the event in 1:01.10; and Emma Dusanek, who was third in 1:02.91.

     “It was great to see Drew go out and take control of the race,” the coach said. “Emma had a tough start to her day, not running her best in the 100-meter dash, but I was really proud of the way she bounced back and ran a solid race in the open 400.”

     Also qualifying was the 4x400 team of Dusanek, Taylor Bahnsen, Kayla Folkers and Jensen, in 4:18.40.

     “Kayla and Taylor have worked tremendously hard throughout the year, and deserve the opportunity to run at State.”

Boys track

     Midland will send two seniors to the State Class 1A Boys Track and Field Meet this week.

     The Eagles competed in the state qualifying meet Thursday, May 11 in Central City.  

     Alex Martens qualified by winning the high jump with a season-high 6-foot-4.

     “Throughout the season, Martens has only been able to jump 6-2 once or twice,” Midland coach Eric Smith said. “It was definitely the right moment to set a new PR (personal record) for himself when it really matters.”

     Also qualifying was Landon Hunter in the 400-meter hurdles. He placed second with a time of 57.39 seconds.

     “Landon Hunter had a lights-out kind of night,” Smith said. “He set a new PR.”

     Also performing well was Hunter Shoaff, a freshman who set a PR in the shot put, 36-4. Others recognized by coach Smith were Austin Smith, Elijah Spilman, Trace Jensen and Jacob Shoaff.

     Earlier, the Eagles competed in a meet at Central City May 8, and had wins from Martens in the high jump and Hunter in the 400 hurdles. The shuttle hurdle team of Hunter, Martens, Jensen and Jacob Shoaff set a school record of 1:08.89.

Boys golf

     Midland shot 386 to finish second out of six teams at the Class 1A Sectional Boys Golf Tournament Friday, May 12 at Little Bear in Wyoming.

     With that finish, the Eagles qualified as a team for district competition, and will play Thursday, May 18 at Pleasant Valley in Iowa City.

     Easton Valley won the team title with a score of 349. Lisbon was third with 393, and also advanced.

     Connor Harms led Midland with a 45-41–86. Peyton Rupp shot a 96, Sebastian Kreel had 98, Carter Mohr 106, Ethan Orr 107, and Carson Rupp 111.

Girls golf

     Midland had one of its best performances of the season at the Tri-Rivers Conference Girls Golf Tournament May 8 at Valley Oaks in Clinton.

     The Eagles didn’t have a complete team, sending three golfers to the meet. Sydney Stender led the way with a 102, including a 47 on the front nine. She finished fifth overall to earn all-conference honors.

     Anna Roseland shot 133, and Nicole Guenther had 134.

     “With steady practice and hard work, the girls that were able to attend the tournament improved their performance and played a tough golf course very well,” Midland coach Scott Ahrendsen said. “Highlight of the day was Sydney Stender. She played very well.”