The boys’ 4×800 relay at the Drake Relays on Saturday didn’t exactly go according to plan for defending champion Ankeny.
The Hawks were in second place when their third runner, Justice Rathje, fell onto the track while handing the baton to teammate Ethan Zuber.
“I was just trying not to fall over that last 300 (meters) when that Cedar Falls guy passed me,” said Rathje. “I was just trying not to let the lead get too (big) so Ethan could catch them.”
Zuber, the two-time state cross country champion, had no trouble making up a 3-second gap. He ran the final leg in 1:50.08 to lift the Hawks to a repeat victory.
The Ankeny team, which also included Nicholas Robie and Isaiah Smith, was clocked in 7:41.41–the fourth-fastest time ever in Iowa. Cedar Falls was second in 7:43.12.
“I think we saw a lot of guys really empty the tank,” said Zuber. “The runner I’m most proud of is Justice. This guy fell over the line. He showed up at the Drake oval. He’s a new addition to the team, and he really let it all out. He’s the reason we were in that (race) and competing to win. When you see a runner do that in front of you, it makes you want to do everything you can so that he can get what he deserves.”
Robie ran the opening leg in 1:54.82, putting the Hawks just behind Cedar Falls. Smith then ran the second leg in 1:56.31, giving Rathje a narrow lead.
“It’s a great feeling. This is what we all wanted. We all went out there for each other, and we got the ‘W’,” Smith said.
Rathje ran the third leg in 2:00.21, keeping the Hawks within striking distance.
“It’s a great group of guys,” Rathje said. “They really elevate anyone who is on this roster. It feels great to be with such a great group of guys and to put it all out on the line.”
After placing third in the 3,200 on Thursday and the 800 on Friday, Zuber was determined to capture another Drake Relays flag.
“I think after that 800 earlier at the Relays, I walked away from that thinking I should have went sooner,” Zuber said. “I should have left more out there. My coach looked at me and said, ‘You’re running another one (Saturday).’ So I had to be a man of my word and put more out there. That was the goal today. I wanted to prove to my coaches and also to myself that if you put it all out there, it’s going to be a different outcome than third place.”
For Robie, the victory was even sweeter than last year’s win.
“It’s spectacular,” he said. “It’s one one thing to do it once, but to come back and be able to do it again and show everybody that it wasn’t a one-time thing, there’s no feeling like it.”
Rathje was just happy to get his first Relays flag.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “It’s a dream come true. It’s just the best feeling in the world.”
Ankeny coach Jordan Mullen had nothing but praise for his distance crew.
“Those guys absolutely killed it!” Mullen said. “They are ready to rock and roll into championship season! I could not be more proud of them and how they competed!”
