South Tama’s 4x100 team of Shae Slaven, Lauren Yuska, Ashton Graham and Allison Yuska competed at the Drake Relays on Friday, April 28. Above is the final leg of the relay as anchor Allison Yuska awaits the handoff from Graham. The relay took 57th in the prelims. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

A sign reading “50 Years Rain or Shine” can be seen as track fans head into Drake Stadium for the annual Drake Relays. The Relays have a bit of a streak going with cold and rainy weather and this year was no different. Friday’s high barely made it into the 40’s and the rain pushed several field events inside to the Field House. But the show went on.

South Tama had five girls representing the Trojan track team including Stacey Slaven in the High Jump, the 4×100 relay team of Shae Slaven, Ashton Graham, Lauren Yuska and Allison Yuska. Allison Yuska also competed in the 400 Meter Hurdles.

Friday’s events for the Trojans kicked off with Slaven in the High Jump. She is a sophomore at STC and this is her second visit to the Relays in the High Jump. Slaven finished 12th overall out of 20 girls, just missing her goal of 5’4. The 12th place finish was two spots higher than her debut freshman performance at the same height. Her season and personal best was a jump of 5’6 earlier in the season at an indoor meet. Slaven prefers jumping indoors as that is when she has had her best performances of the season. She’s looking to make a run at State later this month.

On the track, the girls 4×100 relay team had just one spot to fill after the 2016 graduation of Isabelle Tyynismaa as the anchor. Ashton Graham moved into the third spot and Allison Yuska became the anchor for the 2017 team. The quartet finished 57th in the prelims with a time of 52.22.

Speaking of Tyynismaa, she is now running track for Wartburg College. She anchored her college 4×200 team at the Relays this year. The Knights finished 7th in the women’s college division with a time of 1:43.09.

South Tama’s Stacey Slaven attempts to clear 5’4 at the Drake Relays on Friday, April 28. Slaven finished 12th overall in the high jump. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

Saturday on the track, STC senior Allison Yuska competed in the 400 M Hurdles. She finished 7th overall with a time of 66.38. Yuska’s time placed her 3rd in Class 3A.

It was the first trip to the Relays for Levi Hunerdosse as the head coach for the Trojans. (Hunerdosse was the Assistant Coach under George Corum who retired from coaching after last season) “I was happy with how the girls performed with the conditions and against some of the best competition in the state,” said Hunerdosse. “Qualifying for Drake and placing as high as 7th and 12th in the 400 hurdles and high jump are great accomplishments but the next two weeks is what really matters and trying to get qualified to run at the blue oval again for the state meet.”

With the Drake Relays in the rear view mirror, the Trojans will be moving their focus to State. South Tama will be traveling to Pella for Districts on Thursday, May 11. Schools also vying for a trip to State at the Pella meet will be Benton Community, Clear Creek-Amana, Grinnell, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Pella and Williamsburg.