Indianola's Walker Whalen sets boys discus state record Thursday at Iowa state track
Walker Whalen is walking into the record books.
The Indianola senior set a new state record in the boys discus Thursday, capping an amazing final year with a record throw of 204 feet, 9 inches during the Class 4A competition at the Iowa state track and field meet.
Whalen's record throw came on his final attempt.
He hit 186 feet on his first attempt and that got him into the finals after scratching on his next two attempts. In the finals, Whalen threw 197-9 and 199-3 before unleashing his record throw.
"It just feels great," Whalen said. "Ever since I hit that first 200 (earlier in the season), I knew I had it in me again. It was just a matter of when. Thankfully it was at the state meet. Last throw of high school — you can't go out in a more perfect way."
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Whalen broke the previous state mark of 197-5 on his fourth attempt and went on to do it two more times. That mark was set by Northwood Kensett's Tom Yezek in 2016.
"It wasn't really one of my goals, but as I got out there, I was like, 'Maybe I want to go chase this,'" Whalen said. "It feels great to beat it."
Whalen was pushed by a big performance from Ames senior Corey Phillips. Phillips nearly hit the old record himself on his final attempt, throwing 195-10 to place second and set a new school record.
"I always knew I had it in me, but you've just got to go put it out there," Phillips said. "Today I just put it out there. When guys are pushing you to be your best, then the best comes out of you."
Ankeny's Tyrese Miller wins 4A boys 400
Ankeny senior and future Iowa Hawkeye Tyrese Miller got his final state track meet off to a great start. Miller won the 4A boys 400 meters and also advanced to the finals in both the 100 and 200 Thursday.
Miller ran the 400 in 48.71 seconds to beat the 49.58 by Iowa City Liberty's Luke Meyers for the gold medal. He fell just a little short of his Drake Relays time of 47.91.
Miller won the 100 dash prelims in 10.85. Dowling Catholic's Mikey McClain was second in 11.05.
Miller had the third-fastest prelim time in the 200 at 22.02. Mikey McClain was first in 21.79 and Cedar Rapids Washington's Miles Thompson was second in 21.98.
Addison Dorenkamp, Kamryn Ensley make Valley proud in the 4A girls 3,000
Valley freshman Addison Dorenkamp followed up a runner-up finish in the girls 3,000 at the Drake Relays with a state championship in the 4A 3,000 Thursday.
She completed the race in 9:55.89. That time was a personal record, just edging the 9:56.91 she ran at the Drake Relays, where she finished second behind Ballard's Paityn Noe.
"It feels amazing," Dorenkamp said. "It's a feeling you can't explain. It's like my whole body is being lifted up."
Dorenkamp, the 4A girls state cross country champion, didn't have Noe to give her a challenge during Thursday's race. So teammate Kamryn Ensley rose to the challenge. Ensley stuck close behind Dorenkamp for five laps and ended up third in 10:06.60.
"It was great to stay up with her for that long," Ensley said. "I gave it my all, so it was really good."
Ensley is a senior. Dorenkamp said she'll miss running with her teammate.
"Moments like these are so bittersweet," Dorenkamp said. "I'm going to miss her so much."
Des Moines Roosevelt's Abi Hahn took second in 10:05.21.
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Noelle Steins of Calamus-Wheatland won an exciting battle in the Class 1A girls 3,000. She ran a 10:21.01 to just edge Hudson's Addison Grady (10:21.91) in a photo finish.
"I knew my kick was fast enough to outdo these girls," Steins said. "All you have to do is keep moving your legs faster and faster. You can go as fast as your mind tells you you can go and I believed in myself the last 200. That's how I got my victory."
Iowa City High's Ford Washburn won the 4A boys 3,200 in 9:05.35 and Saint Ansgar's Riley Witt took the 1A boys title in 9:38.95.
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Audi Crooks sets new 1A girls shot put mark
Bishop Garrigan's Audi Crooks set a new state record in the 1A girls shot put Thursday.
Crooks, an Iowa State verbal commit in basketball in the 2023 class, peaked with a toss of 45-1 on her fifth attempt. The old 1A record was 42-1.25.
Bedford's Emily Becker was second with a distance of 40-4.25.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Indianola's Walker Whalen sets discus record at 2022 Iowa state track
