Bryer Prochniak

DES MOINES, Iowa — North Union senior sprinter Bryer Prochniak qualified for the iconic Drake Relays for the first time in his record-setting prep track & field career.

Prochniak, a perennial Iowa Class 1A state medalist in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, posted a preliminary time of 11.05 seconds to capture 21st overall during Friday’s best-of-the-best track & field competition at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

“Just to qualify for the Drake Relays is quite an accomplishment because they have what is called a ‘blue standard.’ The standard for the open 100 this season was 10.95 seconds, and that’s moving,” said North Union head coach Loren Looft. “While Bryer didn’t reach the event’s finals (top eight), his 11.05 today was his fastest-ever time at that venue (Drake Stadium), so I’m very happy with that fact.”

Prochniak, who qualified for the Drake Relays with a 10.86 time, also faced the challenge of a short turnaround as the Minnesota State University-Mankato football commit captured first place in the open 100 in 11.19 during Thursday night’s John Larson Relays in Armstrong. Prochniak then hit the Drake track at 9 a.m. Friday morning.

Colin Rasch heaved the shot to a winning distance of 46 feet, 10 3/4 inches to join Prochniak atop the medals podium as the host Warriors placed seventh overall at their invite Thursday night.

Gavyn Morphew claimed fourth place for North Union in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.14, while teammate Landon Price sprayed sand at a mark of 17-4 3/4 to pocket fourth place in the long jump Thursday night.

In the girls’ portion of the Larson Relays, Olivia Merrill swept both throwing events, Jacey Welbig struck gold in the 1,500-meter run, while Shelby Fraker crossed the finish line first in the open 100 meters before anchoring the 4×200 relay team’s first-place showing to pace North Union’s second-place team performance at the Larson Relays.

Merrill heaved the shot to a winning mark of 35 feet, 8 1/4 inches before hurling the discus to a distance of 101-2 1/2 to best the field en route to pacing the Warriors’ runner-up point total to 110. Northwood-Kensett claimed the girls team crown with a score of 119.

Welbig posted a winning time of 5:37.4 to outdistance all of her 1,500-meter rivals, while Fraker displayed her Mercurial speed by striking gold in the open 100 in 13.52.

Fraker then sealed the North Union 4×200 relay’s first-place performance of 1:52.08 from the fourth and final spot in the fleet-footed quartet. Ella Ulrich, Naomi Jones and Libby Stevens handled the first three respective legs in the gold-medal relay.

Ulrich, Naomi Jones, Stevens and Fraker also exchanged handoffs to cross the finish line in second place during the 4×100 with a combined time of 52.78.

Ulrich also netted fourth place in the open 100 in 13.94, Allyson Nelson claimed fourth in the 400-meter dash in 1:14.24, while Mylee Oleson chipped in a fourth-place time of 1:32.61 in the 400-meter hurdles for the Warriors.

North Union competes at West Hancock in Britt, Iowa, at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

2023 John Larson

Relays At Armstrong

GIRLS DIVISION

Team Standings: 1. Northwood-Kensett 119; 2. North Union 110; 3. Bishop Garrigan 104; 4. West Bend-Mallard 90; 5. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 63; 6. North Iowa 62; 7. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 52; 8. Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 47.

BOYS DIVISION

Team Standings: 1. Estherville-Lincoln Central 146; 2. Bishop Garrigan 130; 3. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 94; 4. Northwood-Kensett 78; 5. North Iowa 77; 6. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 66; 7. North Union 58; 8. West Bend-Mallard 43; 9. Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 31.