Norwalk's Tony Anania sets new personal best in Drake Relays debut

Tony Anania didn’t start his athletic career on the track.

But it is where the former basketball player found his rhythm, and it has paid off this season.

The Norwalk junior ran a 4:14.10 in the 1,600-meter run and a 9:09.62 in the 3,200 – both the best times in the state entering Drake Relays. He competed in the 3,200 on Thursday but even his best time wasn’t enough on the Blue Oval.

Against two athletes – Jaden Merrick from Cedar Falls and Ethan Zuber from Ankeny – who broke the nine-minute mark, Anania finished fifth and set a new personal best time of 9:07.79.

“It was super surreal to be a part of that race,” Anania said while attempting to catch his breath. “We got two of the best guys duking it out and then to come away with a PR, it’s a blessing.”

He was swallowed by the pack early but recovered well and worked his way into the fifth spot after the first lap. Anania moved up to fourth after the second, but slipped back a bit in the middle legs of the race.

With a couple laps remaining, he moved back into fifth and remained in that spot through the end of the race.

Anania admits he felt some pressure coming into Drake Stadium as the statewide leader.

But his coaches reminded him this was just another race, something the Warriors' athlete could use to prepare for district meets and eventually the state track meet.

Besides, a fifth-place finish in his Drake Relays debut is no small feat.

In Anania’s third-ever season of track, he walked away with a top-five finish against some of the toughest competition in the state. Before track, it was all about basketball for the Norwalk runner.

“I played basketball until my freshman year,” Anania said. “I just realized after my freshman track season that I could be really good at track. So, I decided to quit basketball and focus on track and see what I can do. Now, we’re here.”

Anania isn’t finished with the Drake Relays just yet. He will compete in the 800-meter run, 4x800 relay and 1,600 medley relay.

Then, he will set his sights on the state track meet next month.

“I tried to focus on having fun, not really worry about time or place,” Anania said. “It’s like a preview for state, so I just want to focus on having fun rather than my time.”

And he did have fun, that’s certain.

“Oh yeah. My legs probably didn’t, but I had a lot of fun.”

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Norwalk's Tony Anania hits new PR in Drake Relays debut