Heitland strikes gold at state track meet

DES MOINES — AGWSR’s Austin Heitland entered last week’s state track and field meet with great expectations and left with even greater memories. The senior placed in three events, including a championship in the 400-meter dash, while also running a leg of a placing relay.
“It feels really good to come out here and place in four events and be a champion in one,” he said after running his final event Saturday. “I wanted to place in all four, and I wanted to win the 400.”
Heitland reached that goal Thursday, ensuring himself of placing in the 100- and 200-meter dash events by earning a spot in the final, and then holding off a spirited charge from Lawton-Bronson’s Brett Prenger in the 400, winning in a personal-best 49.36 seconds.
He went on to place third in the 200 and fifth in the 100 during Saturday’s finals, matching his goal in each event.
For more of this story, see the May 29 Grundy Register.