Davidson, Allen fall short of finals berths

DES MOINES — Mt. Pleasant’s Will Davidson came to play on Thursday at the 2022 Drake Relays, but unfortunately was unable to play on to the Top-9 and the boys long jump finals.

Davidson took 13th place in the field of 24, ending the day with a top jump of 20 feet, 11.75 inches.

The leap came on his first attempt of the day. After the first round, Davidson was sitting in ninth, which was the last transfer spot onto the finals. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t hold on.

Davidson’s other leaps were 20 feet, 1.25 inches, and 18 feet, 5.75 inches.

Southeast Polk’s Abu Sama won the long jump competition, earning the top leap with a jump of 23 feet, 11 inches.

In other field events, New London’s Carter Allen wound up with a similar fate, but took a different road to get there.

Allen scratched his first two throws in the boys’ discus competition. He reared back and threw it 151 feet even in his third attempt, good enough for 15th.

Winning the Drake Relays shot put throw was Walter Whalen of Indianola, who tossed it 195 feet, 5 inches.