Boys 4x400 Relay Wins Draper Championship; Gordon and Wissler Set School Records

Cardinals' 4x400 relay team of Sam Ferrar(passing baton) BJ Townsley, Arthur Stier, and Mike Andersen won the 30th Annual Draper Relays final event Saturday at St Stephens.

The Draper Relays always brings out the best Ireton track and field performances of the season. Led by Senior Shannon Gordon and Junior BJ Townley, the 2011 team did not disappoint as the boys (5th) and girls (6th) had their highest team finishes in recent years. The boys4x400 meter relay team Seniors Sam Ferrara, Arthur Stier, and Michael Andersen teamed with junior BJ Townley to end the drought of meet champions with a win the event at 3:31.86.

It was a thrilling victory to put a cap on the day, as Ferrara staked the Cardinals to a slim lead on the first lap over Georgetown Day and Gonzaga. The two teams nugged the redbirds into third place as Andersen grabbed the baton for the final lap at Sleepy Thompson Stadium. The lanky senior found a gear the other runners didn’t have on that anchor leg as he caught the GDS runner out of the first turn and snared the Gonzaga anchorman in the back stretch. Andersen was in overdrive pulling away to the finish to give Ireton the gold medal.

The 400 and 3200 meter relay teams also scored big points placing 6th and 7th. Individual boys medalist included: Townley (4th – 110 hurdles; 5th – Triple Jump; 4th-400 meter dash); Ferrara (6th-400 meter dash); Andersen (7th-800 meter run); Moses Webb (4th- 100 meter dash)Ironically, these athletes produced scored the remaining.

Shannon Gordon lowered her own 300 meter hurdle record to 47.10 finishing 4th. Not to be out done, Anna Wissler followed her in the very next event setting a new school record in the girls 800 meter run (2:27.0) while finishing 4th. Gordon went on to medal in the 100 meter hurdles (3rd), high jump (8th), and led the

1600 meter relay team (Gordon, Marin Nolan, Ricca, Graham, and Nicole Bond) to 3rd place (4:13.76). Wissler teamed with former 800 record holder Nolan, Madeline Thomas, and Joanna Faletti narrowly missing the girls 3200 meter record while finishing 2nd in 10:03.73. Additional girls medal performances included: Madeline Thomas (4th-3200 meter run; 6th-1600 meter run), Nicole Bond (6th-100 meter dash; 7th-200 meter dash) and Megan Reilly (3rd-Freshman Mile).

Leading into next weeks Catholic Schools State Championship meet, several athletes are beginning to peak. Gabby Goddette set a new personal record in the 3200 meter run by 13 seconds (12:07.21) and Arthur Stier looks to close out his high school career at the top. He set a personal record in the 800 at 2:03.70. Look for the Cards next week to defend their boys state title and the girls to push rival O’Connell for top honors.