By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Des Moines — This was a moment a long time coming for Danville.
They saw Addison Parrott finish as runner up in cross country, the 1500m and 3000m run.
Ty Carr was the runner up in cross country.
But today, their team of Mason Chipman, Gabriel Gourley, Oliver Sowell and Ty Carr were second to none.
That quartet orchestrated a 3:28.68 clinching gold in the Boys 1A 4x400m relay, reducing them and their supporters to tears.
They really wanted it, folks.
“Amazing. I don’t know what else to say” Sowell told KILJ when asked if he could describe the feeling of finally getting over the hump.
“Coming into this year we never ran a 400 or 4×400 at all during track. So, coming into this year clearing the relay record book at our school — I don’t know if anyone could have saw us doing that” Sowell said.
“[Then] winning that 4×4 for us, that’s something else man.” Sowell said with a large smile.
Sowell took the stick for the Danville with the Bears in third and catapulted them to first before the final anchor — by Carr — splitting 51.6
Carr took the Bears home with a 51.11.
He did so with fresh legs.
Scheduled to run in the mile approximately 20 minutes before the 4×400, Carr made the executive decision to scratch himself from that race to be able to give his teammates — and three seniors — their best chance to win it all.
Selflessness in full display.
“I didn’t want to pursue my own accolades and let that get in front of my chances helping my guys get that state title.” Carr explained.
“It was the easiest decision to make, it was their last year. I didn’t want to put myself in front like that.”
Incredible.
Danville’s girls 4×400 team won the title in 2018, but the group explained that it feels good to put their town back on the map.
Hometown kids, from a great community, doing great things.
That’s what state track is all about.