MFL MarMac runners gain valuable experience at Drake
MFL MarMac’s Wyatt Powell (left), Karter Decker, Kaden Stocker and Cullen McShane participated in the Drake Relays in Des Moines last week. The four made up the 4x100 relay team that was one of the school’s two qualifying events, while Decker also competed in the 100 meter dash. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Kirkestue)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The 2022 Drake Relays provided a valuable learning experience for four MFL MarMac track and field athletes—if not the outcome they were hoping for.
Junior Karter Decker, who qualified 13th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.96 seconds, hoped to cement himself as one of the top sprinters in the state. A hamstring injury with about 30 meters remaining in his April 29 prelim heat forced him to limp to the finish line, though. Decker posted the 22nd best time at 11.43 seconds.
“He still finished the race and gave it a great effort,” said head coach Kyle Kirkestue.
Decker was also a member of MFL MarMac’s 4x100 qualifying team along with seniors Cullen McShane and Kaden Stocker and sophomore Wyatt Powell. The injury meant the relay wasn’t able to run at its full ability the following day.
“But [Karter] still stuck himself out there for his teammates. He wanted them to experience being on that track, and we still ran the race,” said Kirkestue. “I was proud of the guys.”
Decker, who will take this week off to recuperate for the May 12 state qualifying meet, said he still enjoyed participating in the Drake Relays despite the unfortunate injury.
“It was pretty fun being with the guys and just being there together. We still had a good time,” he shared. “You’d walk around and see these Iowa runners and people from other colleges.”
“There were a lot of big names there, people you see on Twitter,” added McShane. “It was cool to be around those people and competing with them. The atmosphere was awesome.”
For Powell, simply qualifying for the Drake Relays was meaningful. MFL MarMac was one of the smaller schools in attendance.
“It’s cool that we are there and the 4A and other big schools are all there. We showed we can be down there too,” he said.
“I thought the experience was great, even though we didn’t get the result we wanted,” Stocker noted.
McShane said the athletes will use that experience moving forward—especially as they make a run at the state meet at the same location. He, Decker and Powell all qualified for state a season ago, either individually or as part of a relay (or both). He admitted to being a bit shell shocked running on Drake’s blue oval for the first time.
“I think it’s good we went down this early. Now, we’ve gotten a taste. I’m not as nervous, and it’s going to be easier,” he explained. “We’ll probably prepare more now, both mentally and physically, because I think we’ll be back down to the blue oval.”
