July 16, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Mount Ayr’s Reynolds top area finisher at Drake

By JARED LARSON

Mount Ayr sophomore Ryce Reynolds is smiling after a third place finish in the open 400 meter dash Friday night at the Drake Relays. Reynolds ran a 49.72 second time, a new personal record. (JARED LARSON)

DES MOINES — Raider sophomore Ryce Reynolds had a very successful two day stint at the Drake Relays.

On Friday, day one for area schools, Reynolds and his distance medley relay team of Austin Cole, Jaydon Knight and Adler Shay finished 14th with a time of 3:36.21.

Friday evening, Reynolds finished third in the open 400 meter dash with a time of 49.72.

For Reynolds, who broke his own personal record of 50.33, is in third place all time in Mount Ayr Community High School history. Kyle Dolecheck at 49.35 and Ed Defenbaugh at 49.4 seconds hold the top two positions.

“It means the world,” Reynolds said of what competing at the Drake Relays means to him. “I was looking at maybe coming to this meet last year, but unfortunately how things panned out and I’m more than happy to be here this year.”

A 400 meter dash time below 50 seconds means that the runner has to run a full lap at 18 miles per hour.

“Coming here last year it’s been a big goal of mine,” Reynolds said regarding going sub 50 seconds. “I’m excited to see how far I can drop below (50 seconds).”

Reynolds next goal? Running even faster, at least, .08 miles per hour faster on the single lap event.

“Getting sub 49.5 or low 49s,” Reynolds said. “Hopefully I don’t know when, but sub 49 would be amazing.”

With a time of 53.50, Reynolds narrowly lost the open 400 meter dash to Lisbon senior Kole Becker by one hundredth of a second Saturday afternoon.

Other area results

Nodaway Valley senior Maddax Devault performed in poor conditions Friday morning in the 100 meter hurdles. DeVault finished 20th and had a time of 16.23.

Nodaway Valley Wolverine Maddax DeVault clears a hurdle during the second heat of the 100 meter hurdles on Friday at the Drake Relays. DeVault is flanked by Camryn Weers (1106, Waukee Northwest) and Grace Braden (418, Cedar Rapids Kennedy). (JARED LARSON)

Southwest Valley junior Marshall Knapp competed in the high jump, but could not clear the height of 6-1 and recorded a “no height”.

Southwest Valley Timberwolf Marshall Knapp competes in the high jump Friday morning at the Drake Relays. (Jake Ryder)

A trio of area schools competed in the girls 4x100, Clarke, Mount Ayr and Nodaway Valley.

Clarke, comprised of the quartet of Tory Henry, Kya Thornton, Ali Henry and Josey Dunbar finished 55th overall and had a time of 51.86.

Mount Ayr’s Payten Lambert, Jaxy Knight, Kaylie Shields and Addy Reynolds finished 61st and were clocked at 52.01 seconds.

Raiderette senior Addy Reynolds anchors the 4x100 Saturday morning at the Drake Relays. Mount Ayr finished fifth in their heat. Reynolds is flanked by a runner from Indianola and South Hamilton (Jewell). (JARED LARSON)

Reynolds also competed in the 400 meter dash where she finished ninth with a time of 57.66.

The Wolverines finished 68th with a time of 52.119. Nodaway Valley’s team was comprised of Annika Nelson, Abby Engles, Emma Lundy and Madison Fry.

(JARED LARSON)

The 2022 coed state track and field meet is May 19 to 21 at Drake Stadium.