Iowa Valley's Caleb Haack reacts after winning the Class 1A boys' 4x400-meter relay Saturday, May 24 at the 2025 State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

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DES MOINES — Falling short can sometimes be the best motivator.

The Iowa Valley boys 4x400-meter relay team was just shy of a podium finish last year at the State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

But the runners would not be denied this time around.

On Saturday, the Tigers had their picture perfect moment to cap off the meet, taking home the relay title with a new Class 1A state meet record of 3:21.30.

“Last year missing the podium by such a little amount has pushed us to this point,” Layne Peska said. “It’s always been in the back of our mind.“

The Tigers ran the second best time in the prelims Friday and knew they were capable of big things in the final.

“We knew we were close (to the record) in the prelim,” Caleb Haack said. “We knew we each had a little more to give today. We’ve put so much work in. It’s really special for us and our coaches.”

The Tigers were near the front of the pack the whole race, but Haack had some work to do as the anchor.

Haack out-kicked Woodbine’s anchor down the homestretch, and emotions were high following the victory, as the Tigers’ fans in the crowd roared.

(Woodbine was disqualified after the race.)

“You look up at the crowd and see all those people, and you see why you want to do this,” Nolan Kriegel said. “To compete and do it for them.”

Members of the Iowa Valley boys' 4x400-meter relay team react after winning in a 1A state meet record 3:21.30 Saturday, May 24 at the 2025 State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current) — Members of the Iowa Valley boys' 4x400-meter relay team react after winning in a 1A state meet with a record time of 3:21.30 Saturday, May 24 at the 2025 State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Earlier in the day, Haack added medals in the 100 and 200, earning sixth- and third-place finishes.

“I under-performed a little in the 100,” Haack said. “I didn’t feel great out of the blocks. The 100 helped fuel the fire for the 200.”

Haack tied his personal best of 22.04 in his podium finish.

The Tigers also ran a season best in the shuttle hurdle relay final, placing fifth. The Tigers finished the weekend with 28 team points.

The win in the 4x400 brought the Tigers into a tie for ninth in the team standings, with medals in five events.

“We’ve been so close as a team,” said Kriegel. “We knew we had the ability to go out and do big things this week.”

English Valleys' Gage Heyne leads the pack in the Class 1A boys' 1600-meter Saturday, May 24 at the 2025 State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Several other area athletes earned medals in the 1A boys’ field Saturday.

English Valleys’ Gage Heyne capped off an impressive state meet with two more state medals, including another runner-up finish.

Heyne began Saturday with a personal best in the 800-meter, running 1:55.08 for fourth place.

“I thought my strategy was good,” said Heyne. “I stayed where I needed to be and gave it what I got.”

Later in the day, Heyne earned his second runner-up finish of the meet in the 1,600, running a 4:19.

Heyne led for half the race and battled it out with North Iowa’s Gavin Grunhovd on the final lap.

“Pace wasn’t there for the times I was shooting for, so I knew I had to lead it and push the pace,” Heyne said on his race strategy.

Heyne finished in the top five in all four of his events, as English Valleys finished 12th in the team race with 25 points.

“Obviously I was hungry for more, but for as much as I put my body through, coming out of here with four personal bests and four school records is huge,” Heyne said. “I’m super proud of it.”

Belle Plaine's Ty Alcott competes in the Class 1A boys' shuttle hurdle relay Saturday, May 24 at the 2025 State Track and Field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Belle Plaine medaled in four events Saturday to move its total to six. The Plainsmen finished 13th as a team with 21 points.

Lucas Eichhron ran a personal best in the 800 to snatch eighth place. A fast first heat set the tone for the second heat.

“I went into it not letting the first heat effect what I was trying to do,” Eichhorn said. The fact that I am even out here running after multiple surgeries, I’m just grateful to be out here.“

A healthy senior year allowed Eichhorn to compete in four events at the state meet, taking home medals in three.

Lane Vokoun placed fifth in the 110 hurdles final, and the Plainsmen finished fourth in the shuttle hurdle and seventh in the 4x400 to cap off the final day.