The Kennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field teams traveled to Des Moines at the end of April to compete in the Drake Relays. The Cougars sent 25 athletes to Drake University and returned with some historic victories.

Both teams found success in both individual and team events. Senior Miles Wilson placed sixth in the 1600-meter with a run time of 4:18.33 to break his own school record. Wilson also placed seventh in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:13:03, breaking yet another school record of 9:16.62, which he set last year at the Drake Relays.

“I think we motivate each other a lot,” Wilson said. “We watch each other work hard at practice and perform well in meets day in and day out, and it motivates us to want to work as hard and do as well as each other.”

Senior Grace Braden walked away with sixth place in the 100-meter hurdles. Juniors Sidney and Addison Swartzendruber placed second and third respectively in the 400-meter dash. 

“We all had to bring our mental game, knowing Drake is a very tough ‘stage’ to compete on,” Sidney Swartzendruber said. 

The Boys’ 4×800 Meter Relay team, made up of, juniors Jacob Bruns, Griffin Gerdes, Henry McMahan and senior Miles Wilson, placed 12th in the race. In the 4×110 Meter Shuttle Hurdle Relay, seniors Tyler Bartels, Landen Dougherty, junior Cyrus Courtney and sophomore Ryan Bartels brought home a first-place victory with a time of 58.64.

In the Girls 4×400 Meter Relay, juniors Addison Swartzendruber, Sidney Swartzendruber, Jovie Veach and freshman Emerson Swearinger ran a 3:55.11, taking their first relay win. The second victory came for the girls in the 800-meter Sprint Medley by juniors Quren Hullon, Addison Swartzendruber, Sidney Swartzendruber and freshman Morgan Hospodarsky who ran a 1:46.10. In their four relay runs, the girls totaled 20 points and earned the Girls’ Relay Cup.

“Believing in what I am capable of and putting trust in my teammates to leave it all out on the track was really important to our success,” Sidney Swartzendruber said.