GILBERT – It didn’t take Tanner Hoveland long to fly down the water-logged track last night, and waiting for him with their arms open were some happy teammates.

Webster City wasn’t expected to earn a shuttle hurdle relay automatic berth into next week’s state track and field meet, but one great run, capped by Hoveland’s dominant anchor got the job done.

And it was just one of several events where the Lynx pulled off the improbable at the Class 3A State Qualifying Meet.

WCHS finished in the top two in six events – the high jump, long jump, shuttle hurdle relay, 100-meter dash, 110 high hurdles and 4×100 relay – to guarantee their involvement inside Drake Stadium next week. Several other events – most probable is the 4×200 comprised of Zane Carter, Gavin Dinsdale, Cory Keenan and Cal Zahn – will have to wait until later today to find out if one of eight wildcard spots in the state field will go to the Lynx.

“Obviously, we thought a perfect night would mean seven qualifiers and we’re guaranteed six,”?WCHS head coach Tony Bussan said. “It was just a great night for everybody and I was really pleased with how the kids competed.”

Hoveland Zahn, both seniors, will each compete in three events thanks to strong efforts in the quagmire last night. In addition to the team hurdles, Hoveland won the 110 high hurdles (15.28 seconds) and ran the opening leg on the gold-medal 4×100 (44.14). Zahn methodically navigated his way to the top of the podium in the high jump and then quickly shut it down, took second in the 100 (11.75) and then anchored the 4×100.

Payton Kannuan and Dinsdale are also on the 4×100, and Kannuan qualified as an individual as well with a personal-best leap of 19-101?2 to place first in the long jump.

Combined with the girls’ program, WCHS qualified in six of the eight field events.

The clear pre-meet favorite in the high jump, Zahn was never able to get completely comfortable on the slick surface; the event took place as the rain was pouring down early in the meet.

Three jumpers were still in contention when the bar reached 6-2 and they all went to their third and final attempts. Only Zahn made it over and the fact that he went last in the rotation worked to is advantage.

“Toward the end, when I knew they hadn’t cleared, it was pretty helpful (going last),” Zahn, last year’s 3A high jump bronze medalist, said. “I tried to be more aggressive after those two guys missed and I figured if I slip, I slip.”

Cody Blair, Jordan Tanner and Fernando Martinez ran the first, second and third legs of the shuttle hurdle relay. Algona was well in front of the rest of the field, but a solid third leg by Martinez put WCHS into contention for the silver.

Hoveland did the rest.

The state meet will be held next Thursday, Friday and Saturday inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines.