Former New London stars make Drake return

DES MOINES — The year was 2018, and the New London girls’ track and field team was at the top of its game at the state track and field tournament in at Drake Stadium.

On the morning of May 18, history was made for the Tigers. The sprint medley team of Jenna Hummell, Camryn Blint, Savannah Sutherland and Carson McSorley dominated the spring medley competition, winning the school’s first state title by over six seconds.

On Friday, two of those runners returned to the scene, as both Hummell and McSorley were in action at the 2022 Drake Relays.

“It’s just as exciting as in high school,” said McSorley, who runs for Wartburg College. “It’s so fun, just the atmosphere and seeing all these amazing athletes out here. I always love the opportunity when I get to run on the blue oval.”

McSorley was part of a Knights distance medley team that took third in the college division and first for Iowa colleges. She also helped earn a finals berth and a seventh-place overall finish for the 4X400 team.

“I’m always excited because I know the blue oval is always a chance for cool things to happen,” McSorley said. “It’s a little bit of de ja vu every time.”

McSorley was a senior when the Tigers earned their state championship. Hummell, who now runs for Hawkeye Community College, was the lone junior.

“I can never get enough of it,” said Hummell, who competed with an eighth-place spring medley team. “To be back running felt good.”

Hummell has been rebounding from a tough handful of years. A battle with pneumonia set her back in her senior year at New London. She lost one year when the COVID pandemic axed spring sports, and she spent much of last year in a boot due to lower-body injuries.

“I feel like I had so many years robbed from me,” said Hummell. “To be healthy was something I took for granted so much.”

Both McSorley and Hummell say they’ve kept up with New London sports since graduation. While they waited on their races, they could keep tabs with members of the Tiger boys’ track team, which was among the best Class 1A schools in attendance.

“They are so crazy,” said Hummell. “To see all these boys and what they’re doing. I’m so excited for them.”

McSorley said she was keeping an eye on her alma mater throughout the weekend.

“It’s really cool because a lot of the New London boys are up here this weekend,” McSorley said. “I’ve been keeping tabs on them with the screens and everything.”

As of Friday, the two hadn’t been able to meet up in Des Moines, although they live in the same neighborhood back home in New London.

“Jenna has had an amazing season,” McSorley said. “I definitely follow her, and any chance I see her, I love talking to her and catching up.”