'It’s one we’ll remember forever’

DES MOINES — When it came time to be their best, the Washington boys distance medley team was just that during Friday’s Drake Relays.

The Demons fought through a little cold and rain and walked out with a personal best, crossing the finish line in 3 minutes, 31.49 seconds for fourth place.

“It's amazing. It means the world to me,” said senior anchor Lance Sobaski. “It’s one we’ll remember forever.”

The rain wasn’t at its heaviest, but enough participation from the sky and a wet track made for some tricky footing, but it didn’t stop junior Ethan Patterson from starting the race off strong.

“We knew there was going to be some crappy weather,” said Patterson. “I was just focused on not jumping the gun, and giving the baton to my teammate.”

Jacob Miller completed a couple of clean handoffs combined with a strong second leg, and the Demons were looking strong early.

“I saw (Ethan) coming in, just read the hand off,” Miller said. “It was a clean handoff. Our best one so far. I knew I just had to put Elijah in place, and Elijah just took off.”

And in fact, Elijah Morris did take off. The defending Class 3A 400-meter dash champion ran his leg in 48.83 seconds, plenty fast enough to give Sobaski a spark going into the 800.

“It felt awesome,” Morris said. “I knew I was fast, but I didn't know I was 48 fast. I just went all-out from the get go.”

When Sobaski crossed the line in the 800, the Demons weren’t just the fourth-best time in the race, but also the second-best mark of the Class 3A squads, a good omen with the state meet coming up in less than a month.

“I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else,” said Sobaski, looking down at the front of his Washington uniform. “Or with any other name on my chest.”