Clark repeats in Drake boys' shot put

Marion's Drew Clark waves his championship flag after winning the Drake Relays boys' shot put for the second straight year. (Gazette photo by Jim Slosiarek)

DES MOINES – Quite a week. And quite a cheek.

Marion’s Drew Clark successfully defended his shot put title at the Drake Relays Thursday. He did so convincingly, with a heave of 61 feet, 1 inch. 

That effort is drawfed a bit by his mammoth throw of 63-7 at Tuesday’s Cedar Rapids Prairie, a bomb that ranks No. 6 all-time in Iowa.

Drew Clark

Yes, quite a week.

“The personal record was great, but to win this on the 100th anniversary of Drake, that’s really good,” said Clark, a senior who will enroll at the University of Iowa in the fall to play football.

The right side of Clark’s face was encrusted with chalk in an effort to minimize slippage.

“I like to use a little chalk,” he laughed. “That way, I can always get the same grip.”

Yes, quite a cheek.

Clark’s top toss — his final one — beat the field by nearly 4 feet. He now turns his attention to three weeks down the road, the state meet.

“I want a new (personal record). And I want the (Class) 3A state record (62-9 3/4),” he said.

Omet Kak of Des Moines North was the 3,200-meter champion, finishing in 9 minutes, 19.71 seconds.

Waukon’s Brett Egan, Iowa City West’s Frank Canady and Cedar Rapids Washington’s Lewis Manirumva were 2-3-4, with Egan’s kick prevailing in 9:26.59.

“Last year, I came up here and finished last in the 1,600,” Egan said. “That was motivation for me, especially in the last 400 of the race. I was just going after it.”

Noah Kittelson of Indianola won the high jump title, clearing 6 feet, 9 inches.

RESULTS

Shot put – 1. Drew Clark (Marion), 61-1; 2. Brandon Scherff (Denison-Schleswig), 57-3 1/2; 3. Nic Toben (Ames), 56-3; 4. Kevin Harp (Iowa City High), 56-1; 5. Kasey Juhl (Atlantic), 55-4 3/4; 6. Adam McDonnell (DeWitt Central), 53-10 1/2; 7. Dan Samson (Maxwell CMB), 52-8 3/4; 8. Anthony Bell (West Des Moines Dowling), 52-8 3/4.

High jump – 1. Noah Kittelson (Indianola), 6-9; 2. Tommy Larson (Johnston), 6-7 1/2; 3. Weston Ketelsen (DeWitt Central), 6-7 1/2; 4. Jordan Marks (Panorama), 6-6; 5. Tyler Donels (Southeast Polk), 6-6; 6. Sid Hansen (Dike-New Hartford), 6-4 1/4; 7. Kody Gillaspie (Westwood), 6-4 1/4; 8. Owen Sadewasser (Clayton Ridge), 6-4 1/4.

3,200 meters – 1. Omet Kak (Des Moines North), 9:19.71; 2. Brett Egan (Waukon), 9:26.59; 3. Frank Canady (Iowa City West), 9:27.62; 4. Lewi Manirumva (Cedar Rapids Washington), 9:32.68; 5. Marshall Moyer (Burlington), 9:33.20; 6. Ryan McMahon (Algona), 9:37.04; 7. Scott Mittman (Iowa City High), 9:37.99; 8. Kyle Blue (Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson), 9:38.01.

Link to Thursday girls

Tags: Brett Egan, Drake Relays, Drew Clark, Marion, shot put, Waukon