Van Meter track wins back-to-back state titles, Moore wins hurdles crown
The rafters are getting redecorated this year with a new banner as Van Meter brought home its second-straight Class 2A girls state championship on Saturday. It was the definition of a team effort, as the Bulldogs scored in 11 of 14 of their events, winning two events in the process.
“You just gotta rely on your whole team,” co-head coach Eric Trudo said after the team grabbed its champion banner. “That's what it took this week. Everybody had to contribute in some way. Whether it was one point or 10 points, it mattered. So everybody bought into that.”’
A leader of that process, senior Brooklyn Fryar went out on a high note with a personal record of 2 minutes 18.52 seconds to net her fourth place in the 800-meter run.
“It definitely feels good. We put in a lot of work and just had to trust our coaches and I think it all paid off, so I’m really happy to have this be my last hurrah with these girls,” Fryar said, adding that she felt the team consistently got stronger from start to finish this year with the mentality they could win it all again.
As the lead-off leg, Fryar also helped the 4x800 relay team win its fourth straight state crown. She was joined by Emma McCoy, Lizzy McCann and Laura Streck — a credit to both the track and cross country programs for routinely providing championship-caliber talent.
Streck, a freshman, took third place in the 1,500-meter run at 4:44.46 and fourth in the 3,000-meter run at 10:29.14. She said she came into the year knowing the whole team would have a good chance to defend its title this year and was glad they pulled through to send off the seniors.
Along with Fryar, the team sends off Eden Moore who claimed a solo title in the 400-meter hurdles (1:03.13) and two silver prizes in the 100-meter dash (12.75 seconds) and 200-meter dash (25.53 seconds). Moore on her own provided 26 of Van Meter’s 63 points. With Pella Christian sitting just three points behind, the Bulldogs needed every bit of help from the rest of the roster that they received.
“I think you're trying to put together the best team,” Trudo said. “I mean, every team is different. And these girls came and worked hard for us each and every day. And we took advantage of their strengths. And then they came out and performed.”
Along with Moore and Fryar departing, Kennedy Wiedman also ran her last events as she graduates this month. She was part of the seventh place 4x100 relay with Makenzie Dubbin, Finley Netten and Teya Speltz; and the ninth place 4x200 relay with Dubbin, Avery Banks and Haedyn Rebelsky.
Apart from the team’s three seniors, the whole team looks to be intact for 2025 for a run at a triple crown.
“The standard is there for them. They know they have to work for it. Same mindset really,” co-head coach Josh Flaws said. “That’s going to be our goal, just keep winning as a team. Individuals are important but the team is more important.”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Van Meter track wins back-to-back state titles, Moore wins hurdles crown
