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One Last Show

Lynx seniors shine at their final home meet

Webster City senior Max Harfst breaks out the smile as he crosses the finish line during the 4x800-meter relay at Tuesday’s Lynx Invite. He ran a 1:59.8 anchor to help WCHS win gold, and later he won the open 800. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WEBSTER CITY — Max Harfst didn’t know, not really. But he knew. You better believe he knew.

The smile that crept across his face as he crossed the finish line gave him away.

Competing on his home track, in front of the home crowd for the final time, the Webster City senior covered 800 meters in less than two minutes for the first time in his career Tuesday evening. His 1:59.8 anchor leg of the 4×800-meter relay was good enough for gold and a dog pile of hugs from relay mates John Piaszynski, Alex Hooker and Tucker Judkins.

“Personally, it’s been a goal,” Harfst said of the sub-two trek as he still struggled for air moments after the race in which WCHS put up a time of 8:29.68. “But getting first is team work in the 4×8 and my job is to go out and chase the guy.”

Harfst did that quickly. In second when he received the baton, Harfst reeled in the leader by the time he reached the backstretch and then ran alone over the final 650 meters, the gap widening with each long stride.

Carson Struchen (left) takes the baton from Garrett Whitmore during the 4x200-meter relay at Tuesday’s Lynx Invite. Webster City won the event. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Harfst added an open 800 title at the Lynx Invitational later in the evening in 2:01.50, not quite as good as his earlier run, but still nearly six seconds clear of the field.

A state qualifier in the 800 a season ago, Harfst has gained speed and confidence during his final prep campaign. And he says it’s all about commitment.

“Over the winter I committed myself to track and working out, and it’s paying off this year,” he said. “It comes down to the little things like diet, sleep and how hard you train.”

WCHS won four events and placed in the top three 15 times en route to its fourth second-place team finish of the season. The Lynx compiled 133 points to settle in right behind Humboldt (168) for the third time this spring. It was the fourth meet title for the Wildcats this month.

“They’re just solid up and down the lineup,” WCHS head coach Chad Hisler said of the Wildcats. “They’re a really good team.”

WCHS junior Lincoln LaSourd (center) leans across the finish line for a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash at Tuesday’s Lynx Invitational in Webster City. He also placed second in the 200. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Humboldt received 66 of its points from three individuals. Speedster Jamison Heinz won the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the long jump. Quinton Orr and Joseph Kunert went 1-2 in the mile and two-mile.

Humboldt won nine events and 17 medals in all.

Harfst wasn’t the only WCHS senior to shine. To name a few, Austin Lampman placed third in the shot put (45 feet, 11 inches), Piaszynski took third in the mile (5:01.33), Hooker turned in the best open 400 of his career (sixth, 54.80), and Trace Kepler had season’s-best efforts in the long jump and 100.

“All the seniors had great nights,” Hisler said. “We had an outstanding night.”

A pair of juniors, Garrett Whitmore and Lincoln LaSourd, did plenty of damage as well.

Webster City’s Kaiyu Levongkhom flies towards the sand during the long jump on Tuesday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Both ran on the Lynx winning 4×200 relay (1:33.82) alongside Carson Struchen and Trey Mathis. Whitmore won the 400 low hurdles (56.17) in a career-best time and then finished third behind runner-up LaSourd in the 100. LaSourd’s lean in 11.25 bettered Whitmore’s 11.40. LaSourd was also second to Heinz in the 200 (23.15).

The same sprint quartet that won the 4×200 seized the silver in the 4×100 (45.13).

Freshman J.J. Moore did his part in front of the friendly fans with a career-topping toss of 49-8 in the shot put, which placed second. He was third in the discus (124-0).

“A freshman throwing 49 in the shot, that’s great,” Hisler said. “(Throws and WCHS girls’ head coach Clint Howard) has done a great job with him.”

The Lynx shuttle hurdle group of Kaiyu Levongkhom, Kasey Porter, Malachi Montes and Chris Martinez added a silver medal (1:05.62).

DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Levongkhom was third in the 110 high hurdles (15.88), as was the distance medley (4:09.61) of Jack Van Diest, Porter, Piaszynski and Parker Rossing.

Lynx Invitational

Tuesday at Webster City

Team Standings

1. Humboldt 168; 2. Webster City 133; 3. Pocahontas Area 92; 4. St. Edmond 76; 5. Iowa Falls-Alden 57; 6. Clear Lake 49; 7. Eagle Grove 14.

Webster City Results

Long Jump — 4. Kaiyu Levongkhom 18-81⁄2; 11. Trace Kepler 17-2.

Discus — 3. J.J. Moore 124-0; 11. Austin Lampman 101-7.

Shot Put — 2. Moore 49-8; 3. Lampman 45-11.

100 Meters — 2. Lincoln LaSourd 11.25; 3. Garrett Whitmore 11.40.

200 Meters — 2. LaSourd 23.15; 8. Carson Struchen 24.87.

400 Meters — 6. Alex Hooker 54.80; 13. Seth Godfredsen 1:02.32.

800 Meters — 1. Max Harfst 2:01.50; 9. Tucker Judkins 2:17.98.

1,600 Meters — 3. John Piaszynski 5:01.33; 4. Jose Ramirez 5:02.16.

3,200 Meters — 4. Jacob Willson 11:13.41; 6. Cole Reiling 11:48.35.

110 High Hurdles — 3. Levongkhom 15.88; 10. Malachi Montes 16.96.

400 Low Hurdles — 1. Whitmore 56.17; 5. Kasey Porter 1:02.73.

4×100 Relay — 2. Webster City 45.13 (Whitmore, Trey Mathis, Struchen, LaSourd).

4×200 Relay — 1. Webster City 1:33.82 (Whitmore, Struchen, Mathis, LaSourd).

4×400 Relay — 6. Webster City 3:44.91 (Harfst, Hooker, Judkins, Parker Rossing).

4×800 Relay — 1. Webster City 8:29.68 (Piaszynski, Hooker, Judkins, Harfst).

Shuttle Hurdle Relay — 2. Webster City 1:05.62 (Levongkhom, Porter, Montes, Chris Martinez).

Sprint Medley Relay — 7. Webster City 1:46.09 (Levongkhom, Mathis, Struchen, Rossing).

Distance Medley Relay — 3. Webster City 4:09.61 (Porter, Jack Van Diest, Piaszynski, Rossing).

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