Weber just misses a medal at state

DES MOINES – The schedule for north Lee County athletes at day two of the Iowa High School Track and Field Championships was a lot lighter Friday, but Central Lee’s Aubrey Weber brought a spark.
The senior Hawk let fly a 120’1” throw on her first attempt in the first flight Friday afternoon in the girls' 2A discus event. That throw would be good enough for 9th place overall, just missing the medal ceremony.
A gentle breeze was blowing in from the south and turning a lot of the discs back, but Weber’s first throw cut through and turned just slightly at the back end for the second best throw of the day in the first flight. MFL MarMac’s Blair Winter threw a 120’8” to edge Weber in the first 12 throwers.
The top nine throws of both flights advanced to the finals. Her other two throws of the first round were 108’5 “and 115’5”. In the finals, her first throw was 109’9”. She fouled on the second throw, her only foul of the meet, and then she threw a 115’7”.
Anamosa’s Kasey Frommelt won the event with a 140’5” spin. Mediapolis’  Payton Harris came in second with a 137’7”.
Weber said medaling would have been nice, but she was thrilled with where she finished considering her seeding.
“I’m ecstatic. It was awesome. I couldn’t be more proud, honestly,” she said.
She said her plan was to just let her instincts control the day.

“I was just trying to stay calm. I usually overthink things, but I just wanted to let everything I’ve learned come out, and it worked.”
She spent a lot of time practicing after qualifying at districts last week.
“I was practicing two or three times a day in small amounts so I didn’t get as tired.”
She said the wind didn’t bother her.
“My goal was to go a little lower and get it to cut through. But I didn’t think about it too much. I just wanted to let it fly.
“Being in the top nine is insane.”
The Fort Madison girls' Distance Medley team of Mia Mason, Mara Smith, Charley Huebner, and Avery Rump came into the weekend seeded 13th with a 4:18.31 at the qualifier, but lost a little time Friday, finishing 19th at 4:21.04.
Saturday’s all-class finals will include Avery Rump in the 1500-meter run. Rump has the top seed coming into the event at  4:51.26 and will lead the pack of 24 girls starting at approximately 2:55 p.m.
The Hounds’ Nolan Guzman will run in the 2nd heat of the open 800 after qualifying 6th with a 1:59.13. The 3A final starts at  apprxomately 11:15 a.m.