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Busch, Hawks begin journey to state today

South Hamilton senior Tanner Blue finishes his 110-meter high hurdles run in Story City earlier this spring. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

JEWELL — Nothing is guaranteed, nothing a sure thing or lock, for the South Hamilton track and field teams as they get set to take part in today’s Class 2A State Qualifying Meet in Monroe.

But Austin Busch is as close as it gets.

Busch, a senior and the reigning Drake Relays champion in the shot put, will look to take the first step toward what he hopes will be a pair of state titles in the throws when field events get started today at 4 p.m.

The first- and second-place finishers in each of the 19 events will automatically qualify for next week’s state meet. The next eight best performances from across the state in each event will earn wild card entries, and those are expected to be announced on Friday.

If Busch does Busch things, well, he’ll be in Des Moines to compete twice next week. He currently leads 2A in both the shot put (60 feet, 53⁄4 inches) and discus (177-7), and he’s the school-record holder in both as well.

Teammate Tanner Blue has his sights set on not only a trip to state, but a medal as well in the 110-meter high hurdles. He’ll be the No. 1 seed in that event this evening (14.86 seconds). He, too, is a school-record holder.

The South Hamilton girls’ team is loaded with potential state qualifiers, both individually and in the relays.

Mackenzy Grady owns the state qualifier’s No. 1 seed and the school record in the discus (129-8).

Ashlyn Erickson will be seeded second in the 400, and she’ll run on the 4×100 relay alongside Kate Barkema, Kelbe Krumm and Makena Galetich that owns the same seed.

Grace Neuberger is seeded third in the high jump, as are the 4×200 and 4×800 relays.

Joining South Hamilton in the field will be Colfax-Mingo, Des Moines Christian, East Marshall, Interstate 35, PCM, Pella Christian, Pleasantville, Roland-Story, West Marshall, Williamsburg and Woodward-Granger.

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