DeMeulenaere ‘grateful’ for opportunity

DES MOINES — The 115th running of the Drake Relays has now come and gone, and three area stories emerged at the conclusion of Saturday’s competition.

DeMeulenaere grateful for opportunity

Belle Plaine’s Sam DeMeulenaere was sitting right outside the usual top 16 cutoff for the boys’ 400-meter hurdles.

But due to an entry error, a third heat was added, and the committee decided to keep the third heat.

It is something that DeMeulenaere will forever be grateful for.

“I’m very blessed to even be here,“ DeMeulenaere said following his race. ”I didn’t think I was going to be here.“

DeMeulenaere was informed by phone that he officially made it.

“When I got the phone call, my heart kind of dropped a little bit,“ DeMeulenaere said. ”I was like, are you serious right now?”

Fast forward to the race Saturday, in which DeMeulenaere ran a 55.65, placing 19th.

“I was feeling good going in and felt loose,” DeMeulenaere said.

Shy of a personal best, the Plainsmen senior has been consistently running in the 55-56 second range.

DeMeulenaere was grateful for those who have helped him get to this point.

“I am so incredible thankful God put me in this position and the amount of gratitude I have for everyone that helped me get here,” DeMeulenaere said.

“It’s not just me running out there. I’m the fruit of all the people who have helped me get here.”

Now DeMeulenaere and his teammates will look to make some noise come the postseason in May.

  Buy Photo

Hocker siblings run in the 400

Williamsburg’s Ava and Grant Hocker, siblings, competed in the 400-meter within 10 minutes of each other Friday night.

Ava kicked things off by nearly placing from the first heat, placing ninth with a time of 57.52.

Ava was surprised to even get into the event after being just outside the top 16, but after a few scratches, Ava got the call.

“I was stunned to get the news I was running it,” Ava Hocker said. “My training is still in the works coming off basketball, but I just wanted to go out and compete with those in my heat.”

Grant was just shy of a personal best running 49.86, which was good enough for 12th. The Raiders’ senior has emerged this season in the event.

“It was super cool having my brother compete in the same event,” Ava Hocker said. “I am super happy for him and the success he has had this season.”

Both Hockers also ran a leg on their teams’ qualifying 4x100-meter relays.

“I had a great time running at Drake,” Grant Hocker said. “I did not accomplish all I wanted too, but it was a great experience.”

  Buy Photo

Kriegel places 11th and 15th

Iowa Valley’s Lydia Kriegel was the lone area athlete to qualify for two individual events.

The girls’ discus started nearly three hours after its original start date due to schedule changes Thursday.

Kriegel had a best throw of 119 feet and five inches in flight one, placing 15th. The top nine advanced to the finals.

“I was a little disappointed with discus, and it didn’t go the way I wanted,“ Kriegel said. ”I wanted to be top eight, but I still placed better than I did here last year.”

Kriegel was right back at it Friday morning with the shot put.

Headfirst into the chilling wind, Kriegel had a best throw of 38 feet, 10 inches. The mark was the farthest in flight one and Kriegel just missed finals, placing 11th overall.

The Tigers’ senior has shown a lot of improvement in the event so far this season.

“I definitely credit my coach taking time and figuring out what I needed to do to improve,” Kriegel said. “It felt amazing to finally make it here in shot put.”

Representing a small school in the Drake Relays is always something Kriegel will take pride in, she said.

“As a freshman I never would’ve imagined I’d make it to Drake, but just to be able to be one of the few 1A qualifiers makes me feel amazing that all this work I’ve put into this sport has paid off.”

  Buy Photo