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Redhawk runner Grace Lidgett qualifies for state track

Redhawk distance runner Grace Lidgett rounds the track as the anchor for North Tama’s sprint medley team on Thursday, May 11, during the Class 1A state-qualifier held in Belle Plaine. Lidgett qualified for the state meet in Des Moines thanks to her strong third-place finish in the 1,500-meter run that same night. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Kolt Knaack crosses the finish line as the anchor of North Tama’s boys distance medley Thursday evening in Belle Plaine during the Class 1A state-qualifying meet. Knaack and his teammates finished first in their heat and fifth overall. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Tyrus Luker. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Gavin Rausch, left, and Ryan Hosek. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Gavin Rausch. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON
Kolt Knaack, right. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

Belle Plaine – Redhawk runner Grace Lidgett has ensured her final high school track and field season ends on a high note by qualifying for the 2023 Iowa High School Track and Field Championships in the 1,500-meter run after taking bronze last night in the event at the Class 1A state-qualifying meet hosted by Belle Plaine.

Lidgett has had a difficult season this year when it comes to her health but, in the words of her mother Amy Lidgett, she has never given up even though “that would have been the easier option with her medical issues.”

While Lidgett was not an automatic qualifier for state this season – only first place district finishers in Class A are guaranteed a spot at state – it seems running under the motto “Come what may” as she’s been doing this season paid off and she was slotted in Friday afternoon as part of the top-14 at-large finishers in the state.

At Belle Plaine, Lidgett crossed the finish at 5:10.36 – a full eight seconds ahead of the fourth place finisher.

Including Lidgett’s bronze, the North Tama girls team overall took nine top-8 finishes at the district meet including the 4X400 (Gabriella Seda, Kruiz Ewoldt, Jamie Jacobs, Grace Lidgett) and 4X800 (Jamie Jacobs, Ava Breakenridge, Olivia Ketter, Grace Lidgett) relay teams which both took second place.

Kayden Zimmerman finished in sixth place in the 200-meter dash and seventh in the 100-meter dash.

Jamie Jacobs finished seventh in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:51.99.

North Tama’s distance medley team took fourth, the sprint medley team took fifth, and the 4X200 relay team took seventh.

Kruiz Ewoldt finished seventh for the high jump field event.

Lidgett – seeded tenth – is scheduled to run in the state meet on Saturday, May 20, at 2:45 p.m.

North Tama boys

The North Tama boys squad finished 13th out of 14 teams competing at Belle Plaine on Thursday. The Redhawks scored 17 team points courtesy of several strong finishes.

Gavin Rausch took fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.60, while his teammate Tyrus Luker came in sixth with a time of 24.61.

The Redhawk boys distance medley team comprised of Tyrus Luker, Ryan Hosek, Gavin Rausch, and anchor Kolt Knaack took fifth – first in their heat – with a time of 4:04.88, while the sprint medley team took sixth.

Ryan Hosek finished sixth in the discus field event with a throw of 124 feet, 11 inches.