There’s nothing like running at the Drake Relays.
Just ask Katie Bosch.
The former Ankeny standout helped Northwestern College to a runner-up finish in the College Division of the Women’s 4×800 relay on Friday morning. She ran the opening leg in 2:14.28 to put her team in second place.
“This track has a lot of memories,” said Bosch, who graduated from Ankeny in 2014 after setting the school record in the 800 at the Class 4A state meet. “Throughout college I’ve really enjoyed our nationals experience, but this definitely ranks right up there. I love the blue oval.”
Augustana (S.D.) won the race in a time of 8:58.53. Northwestern was clocked in 8:58.79.
“Every year is a fresh start, and we didn’t have any expectations,” Bosch said. “We knew we wanted to be right up there, but we knew it was going to be a battle either way.”
It was the final Drake Relays 4×800 race for Bosch and fellow senior Katie Landhuis, who ran the anchor leg for the Red Raiders. Afterwards, Bosch stood in the infield at Drake Stadium and soaked up the sunshine and warm temperatures.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “We were just embracing it as we were warming up. I think the last three years it’s been rainy, and last year was a sideways rain. It’s beautiful to see the sun.”
Bosch also placed 16th in the Women’s 800 on Thursday. Her time of 2:12.56 allowed her to automatically qualify for the 2018 NAIA Nationals.
Two other former Ankeny runners are also in action at the Relays–Lyndsie Schinkel of Northern Iowa and Katie Roberts of Grand View.