Relax, it’s only the Drake Relays

Heading into her second Drake Relays shot put competition, Creston senior Hannah Hood will be looking to greatly improve upon her performance from a year ago.

She outperformed her seeding coming into the event, having only bested a couple of her fellow throwers in the field.

Hood picked up ninth, and cemented her spot as one of the best throwers in program history.

“I had a lot to prove last year. It was nice getting in the top nine. That was pretty cool,” Hood said. But it’s definitely different this year ... I definitely want to place high and see how good I do against other schools.”

Hood’s throw of 40 feet even at last year’s relays doesn’t even represent the best that she can throw.

She enters Friday’s 8:30 a.m. shot put event confident and with a heave of 44 feet and 2 inches, third-best in the state, regardless of class.

Hood knows she’ll have to come close to that mark to achieve the success she yearns for.

The senior has consistently been throwing around 41 feet since that personal best and school record throw on April 6 at Red Oak.

But even a new personal record by inches could leave her several feet short of the top.

Waukee High School boasts the top two shot put throws in the state this spring, from sophomore Kat Moody, 47 feet and 0.75 inches, and senior Moe Nealey, 44 feet and 6.5 inches.

Abbi Hood, a Panther freshman and Hannah’s sister, has followed in Hannah’s steps as a thrower, and has competed the varsity level, even winning has the shot put at one junior varsity portion of a meet this season.

Abbi witnessed her sister’s performance at Drake a year ago and was able to see just how talented some of Hannah’s competition will be.

“It was amazing,” Abbi said. “It was fun to watch. I enjoyed it.”

Abbi has had to watch her elder sister endure injuries, dealing with plenty of pain in her shoulders.

Seeing her sister healthy is just another reason to be excited for what could be on Friday.

“Very proud of her and I’m glad she’s doing really well,” Abbi said. “Hopefully I’ll get there, (to Hannah’s level of performance) but we’ll see.”

Anywhere from a third to half of the team, perhaps even more, will be there to cheer Hannah on.

Creston junior Faith Wilson cheered on her teammate at the Drake Relays last year, and plans on doing so again Friday.

Wilson has worked with Hannah the last few years, and knows as much as anyone what makes Hannah tick.

As for what Hannah needs to focus on:

“A lot of footwork. That’s where it all begins,” Wilson said. “ ... She psyches herself out a bit. That’s okay, we all do.”

Over the last few years, Hannah’s teammates have had to help her remember to calm her nerves. Her feelings of anxiety before throws sometimes hinder her performance. Hannah is quick to admit as much.

“I definitely need to calm down and just do everything that I’m capable of doing,” Hannah Hood said. “Everything should go as planned. I think so anyway.”

Before Hannah Hood’s personal record throw, Panther assistant coach Maggie Arnold reassured her and helped her calm down. The result was as good as she has ever seen.

Hannah has been paying extra attention to her diet this week, hitting the weights with Wilson and Abbi, drinking plenty of water and going to sleep at reasonable times.

Friday will come more quickly than most realize. The Drake Relays begin Thursday.

The best competition that many teams and individuals alike will see all year looms on the minds of thousands across the state and even outside Iowa’s borders.

Hannah Hood has to remember one thing:

Relax.

It’s only the Drake Relays.

Strong field to test NV’s Corder

GREENFIELD — Nodaway Valley senior Jared Corder has one goal in mind for the Drake Relays this week.

Do his best.

Corder will test his best against some of the state’s best in the 800-meter run Friday at 2:54 p.m. at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Corder knows he will face stiff competition in the 16-person field.

“All I’m worried about now is running well at Drake and placing well,” Corder said.

Corder comes in with the seventh-best time in the field.

Leading the way is Matt Fraizer, of West Des Moines Dowling, who ran a 1:54.53 on April 18. Second is Ryan Modlin, of Waukee, who ran a 1:55.11 at the same meet. Third is Cedar Falls’ Seb Gearhart, who ran a 1:56.21 on March 31 in Cedar Rapids.

Corder is the only Class 1A entrant in the exclusive field.

He carries that honor with pride.

“It definitely feels good knowing that somebody from a small 1A school can compete with some of the big 4A schools,” Corder said.

He reached an objective in his senior season.

“It definitely was one of my goals to get to Drake,” said the Briar Cliff University football and track and field recruit.

Corder’s skills have grown quite a bit this season thanks to the workout regiment used by Wolverines coach Darrell Burmeister.

“My endurance and my speed in practice — we do a lot of repeat 400s and repeat 200s,” Corder said. “It helps build my speed and my turnover.”

Corder will be running at Drake Stadium for the fourth time. He has qualified for state each of his first three years of high school.

Drake, though, is a different animal.

“It’s going to be more high paced than state,” Corder said.

Whatever the result Friday, Corder knows he is in good position if he is to qualify in the event for state.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster going into state.

Spidle leaping with the best of the best

LEON — Central Decatur sophomore Cauy Spidle doesn’t stand the tallest when he lines up for the the high jump competition.

He certainly proves there is skill and power in his 5-foot, eight-inch frame.

Spidle will put his skills to the test Thursday in the Drake Relays high jump competition. The event is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

“He’s a natural,” said Central Decatur coach Jon Pedersen. “He’s 5-8 and he can go 6-4. I’ve seen some of the pictures and his foot is almost touching his head as he goes over the bar.”

Spidle jumped 6-4 at the Central Decatur Invitational on April 11 to earn his spot at the Drake Relays.

The leap, which tied the school record, wasn’t unexpected according to Pedersen.

“He’s consistently been around that all year,” Pedersen said. “We were just waiting for it to happen.”

Now, it is Spidle’s time to go even higher.

“We’re waiting for him to go up another inch or two,” Pedersen said. “Hopefully that will happen this week.”

Spidle has been diligent in his training.

“He works at it,” Pedersen said. “He keeps going up and we expect him to keep going up.”

Spidle has experience jumping in Drake Stadium, having qualified for the state meet as a freshman in the high jump.

“That will help,” Pedersen said. “He knows what it’s like.”

There will be one big difference at Drake compared to a normal meet.

“The biggest adjustment for the high jumpers is they have to start at a higher height,” Pedersen said. “He knows that. Last year (at state), it threw him for a little bit of a loop. It’s still different, but he knows and has experienced that.”

Pedersen and his staff were working with Spidle on that this week at Monday’s meet at Des Moines Christian, as well as in practice.

“He’ll respond to that,” Pedersen said. “We’re looking forward to seeing him compete and doing well for him.”

Spidle will be challenged by the exclusive field. Leading the way is J’Von Harris of Oskaloosa, who has jumped 6-10. Cole Moeller, of Calamus-Wheatland, and Miles Rupiper, of Kuemper Catholic, have jumped 6-9, while Caleb Cowles, of Davis County, and Braeden Hoyer, of Northeast, Goose Lake, have jumped 6-8.

The goal, Pedersen said, is for Spidle to go higher than 6-4.

“There’s some awfully good jumpers,” Pedersen said. “That’s going to be pretty good. The goal is to improve his individual jump. We’ll be really happy for him.”

Pedersen noted Spidle is the first Central Decatur boy or girl to make the Drake Relays since he began coaching track in 2006.

“It’s pretty cool for him to make it,” Pedersen said.

Spidle has taken the accomplishment in stride.

“Cauy’s pretty levelheaded,” Pedersen said. “He doesn’t get too excited. It was a goal. Anytime you can accomplish a goal, it’s a pretty special thing for him.”