Fairfield’s Pacha maxes out at Drake Relays

DES MOINES — Fairfield’s Kelsey Pacha has been a standout in track and field for sometime now.

Her talents were on display once again in the 2022 Drake Relays.

Pacha led all Union area athletes with four total events in the relays, while qualifying of a total of five.

“Last year, I qualified in four events and this year as a senior my goals was five,” Pacha said. “They threw me in the 400 hurdles, now I wish I had that 4x100 spot back. Being able to meet the five event goal meant a lot just to prove to myself that I could do it.”

Pacha competed in the 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, shuttle hurdle relay and long jump. She also qualified in the 4x100.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Pacha came in with the 27th best time in the state. With unfavorable conditions in the event Pacha, along with teammate Anna Dunlap, was unable to earn a spot in the finals.

Pacha was seventh-place finisher at state last year and will be one of the top hurdlers again.

Pacha finished 18th in the long jump finals. She entered the competition with a 12th best leap in the state. After scratching her first two jumps, she bounced back with a 16 feet 2.25 inches jump for 18th.

Arguably, the Trojans most dominant relay is the 4x100 meter shuttle hurdle. The Trojans had one of the fastest quads in the state entering the competition, fifth to be exact.

On Saturday, the girls missed out on the finals by two spots. They finishing sixth with a time of 1:07.08, two hundredths of a second off of their personal best.

The group is projected to be one of the favorites come state. They placed third in 2021.

In Pacha’s last event of the competition, she competed in the 400 hurdles. She entered the event with the 19th best time.

She started strong in the race and battled until the end. In the end, Pacha crossed the finish line in 14th.

If ones things for sure, it’s that Pacha will compete. By the time state rolls around, she will be in contention for a title in multiple events.

“I think just continue practicing and building,” Pacha said of preparing for state. “The last 50 still sucks, so just getting more long distance workouts in. For the hurdles, repetition is key. So along with myself and the team, if we keep doing that we will be successful at state.”