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Jamie Meek’s runner-up finish highlights Griswold’s trip to state meet
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Junior has highest individual placing under coach Hall Chaillie, boys team places seventh
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
Fort Dodge – Griswold didn’t make a team appearance on the deck this year at the state meet in Fort Dodge, but the Tigers left with a not so small consolation prize.
Junior No. 1 boys runner Jamie Meek stormed his way to a second place overall finish in Class 1A, chasing his way through the mostly flat Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in 16:02 over 5 Kilometers and finishing ahead of all 132 runners except for one, Drew Sikkema of Clinton Prince of Peace, who improved from last year’s fourth place finish to be crowned champion. Sikkema’s golden time was 15:58.
Meek’s certified time of 16:02 at state was a personal best.
“Jamie has had a sensational year and he went into the meet in peak performance and with a super attitude,” Griswold coed coach Jane Hall Chaillie said.
It was a satisfying moment for Meek, who definitely put a lot of thought into what would be his third time running at state.
“In years past, I fell into the mid pack and was never about to come in contact with the leaders,” Meek said afterwards. “This year, I made an effort to come out stronger and got out front.”
Meek remained in the front pack for most of the race and kept Sikkema in sight. But amidst a crowded and ambitious bunch of front runners, Meek says he knew he was making good time and wasn’t going to let any of the five or six runners ahead of him take him out of his race.
With about a kilometer to go, Meek decided to make his move and kicked it into gear and he picked off runners one by one ahead of him.
“When I saw the final crosswalk (on the golf course), I knew I was ready to make my move,” Meek said. “I tend to have a pretty strong kick at the end.”
It was a smart performance for Meek and a rewarding one for Griswold, who struggled through districts and prepared for the state meet while the status of their No. 3 runner in doubt.
“Jamie knew he needed to stay within contention throughout the race because at the end, he’s got sprint speed that most others don’t,” Chaillie says. “This week has been pretty emotional for everyone on the team, so he ran with a lot of guts to get what he wanted.”
The No. 7 ranked runner coming into the state meet, Meek ran with a chip on his shoulder after seeing his team fall hard in the ratings down to 12th, saddled by a disappointing third place finish at districts. The favored Tigers limped to a third place finish and struggled on the muddy course in Panorama while Woodbine and Logan-Magnolia trumped Griswold, who secured their fifth consecutive trip to state by just one point.
“Our district was really tough and people were doubting us,” Chaillie said. “Jamie didn’t and the rest of the guys didn’t.”
Haynes, the No. 3 runners, fell on the course at Panorama and later developed a staph infection in his right arm that required surgery and two days of hospitalization. Haynes heroically ran for the Tigers two days after being released from CCMH, but was no doubt competing at less than full strength after undergoing some minor surgery to remove an infection.
Haynes, who also plays football for the Tigers, missed Wednesday night’s sub-state 17-10 loss to Hinton. Released from the hospital on Thursday, Chaillie says Haynes embodies the team’s slogan, “We Run with Guts.”
“We’ve got that message on the back of our shirts, and today Austan really showed us what that means,” Chaillie said. “Most kids would have thrown in the towel, but he wanted this. He was actually trying to find any way to exercise while he was in the hospital.
“I think the nurses thought he was a little crazy,” Chaillie jokes. “But thanks to that staff at Cass County to get him out of there and back for us.”
Junior No. 1 boys runner Jamie Meek stormed his way to a second place overall finish in Class 1A, chasing his way through the mostly flat Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in 16:02 over 5 Kilometers and finishing ahead of all 132 runners except for one, Drew Sikkema of Clinton Prince of Peace, who improved from last year’s fourth place finish to be crowned champion. Sikkema’s golden time was 15:58.
Meek’s certified time of 16:02 at state was a personal best.
“Jamie has had a sensational year and he went into the meet in peak performance and with a super attitude,” Griswold coed coach Jane Hall Chaillie said.
It was a satisfying moment for Meek, who definitely put a lot of thought into what would be his third time running at state.
“In years past, I fell into the mid pack and was never about to come in contact with the leaders,” Meek said afterwards. “This year, I made an effort to come out stronger and got out front.”
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With about a kilometer to go, Meek decided to make his move and kicked it into gear and he picked off runners one by one ahead of him.
“When I saw the final crosswalk (on the golf course), I knew I was ready to make my move,” Meek said. “I tend to have a pretty strong kick at the end.”
It was a smart performance for Meek and a rewarding one for Griswold, who struggled through districts and prepared for the state meet while the status of their No. 3 runner in doubt.
“Jamie knew he needed to stay within contention throughout the race because at the end, he’s got sprint speed that most others don’t,” Chaillie says. “This week has been pretty emotional for everyone on the team, so he ran with a lot of guts to get what he wanted.”
The No. 7 ranked runner coming into the state meet, Meek ran with a chip on his shoulder after seeing his team fall hard in the ratings down to 12th, saddled by a disappointing third place finish at districts. The favored Tigers limped to a third place finish and struggled on the muddy course in Panorama while Woodbine and Logan-Magnolia trumped Griswold, who secured their fifth consecutive trip to state by just one point.
“Our district was really tough and people were doubting us,” Chaillie said. “Jamie didn’t and the rest of the guys didn’t.”
Haynes, the No. 3 runners, fell on the course at Panorama and later developed a staph infection in his right arm that required surgery and two days of hospitalization. Haynes heroically ran for the Tigers two days after being released from CCMH, but was no doubt competing at less than full strength after undergoing some minor surgery to remove an infection.
Haynes, who also plays football for the Tigers, missed Wednesday night’s sub-state 17-10 loss to Hinton. Released from the hospital on Thursday, Chaillie says Haynes embodies the team’s slogan, “We Run with Guts.”
“We’ve got that message on the back of our shirts, and today Austan really showed us what that means,” Chaillie said. “Most kids would have thrown in the towel, but he wanted this. He was actually trying to find any way to exercise while he was in the hospital.
“I think the nurses thought he was a little crazy,” Chaillie jokes. “But thanks to that staff at Cass County to get him out of there and back for us.”
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