Wright places fifth in record-setting 3000

DES MOINES ? Pekin?s Gwynne Wright got her first taste of the state meet Thursday and placed fifth in the record-breaking Class 1A 3000-meter run.

Wright crossed the finish line in 10:56 to score four points for the Panther girls, who were also represented by 20th-place Taylor Lock (11:34) in the event.

Leah Seivert of Sibley-Ocheyedan won the race in 9:56 to shatter the previous state meet record of 10:08 set by North Tama?s Brooke Dinsdale in 2006.

Van Buren?s Unity Daugherty ran in the 3000 for the second straight season and came away with a duplicate 23rd-place finish. Daugherty clocked in with a time of 11:44 ? an improvement of 29 seconds from last year?s race.

In other area action, Pekin senior Maranda Baker came five inches short of placing in the shot put, earning a ninth-place finish at 35-feet, 3.5-inches. Freshman teammate Shelbie Williams came in 20th with a throw of 33-feet, 11-inches.

Pekin?s 4x800 was also in action Thursday and placed 13th. Samantha Wright, Maleaha Earnest, Sloan Reighard and Whitney Horras combined for a time of 10:17.