(Audubon) Gavin Smith, of Audubon, will run Thursday in the 400 meter hurdles at the Drake Relays.
Competition from Treynor’s Noah James, a fellow Drake qualifier, helped Smith run his season best of 56.13 at the first meet of the year. Coach Monte Riebhoff recalls it was on a windy night in Treynor. “When I looked at that time I had to double check because he almost stumbled on the 7th or 8th hurdle and he regained his balance and still came back and won the race. It’s hard telling where he could have been in that race, he could have been in the 55’s somewhere. He’s a great young man and he’s a hard worker. He’s a lot stronger than he was as a freshman. I truly believe the 400 lows is where his race is at.”
Just sixteen make the field in the 400 lows. “His expectations right now and mine are pretty much the same. We’d like to finish in the middle of the pack with the 16 kids that made it. Obviously they are all very good athletes. We were hoping we could compete well with the Class 1A kids that are down there.”
Coach Riebhoff says the sky is the limit for Smith. He calls Smith a very smart athlete and a technician. “He is a thinker of all games that he participates in, not just track. He certainly is a good athlete, that helps. He’s certainly a lot stronger and quicker than two years ago. You can tell a big difference in him. He has a lot of confidence after a great football season.”
Southwest Iowa will be well represented in the 400 lows with Sid Schaaf and Noah James each of Treynor and CAM’s Connor McKee in the field. The race starts at 2:21 p.m. on Thursday.
