DES MOINES - Linn-Mar freshman Stephanie Jenks chatted amiably with some of her friends after topping them in the 3000 meter run Thursday at the 104th Annual Drake Relays, casually holding her championship banner after running the third-fastest time in meet history.

She didn't act like her performance was anything special, but it was.

Jenks captured the 3000 in 9 minutes, 46.02 seconds with a strong kick on the final lap to win her personal battle with Pleasant Valley freshman McKenzie Yanek by more than four seconds.

Jenks won the Class 4A state cross country title last fall and now has two prestigious distance titles to her credit as a ninth grader against the best seniors, juniors and sophomores in the state.

Jenks said she dreamed about succeeding as a runner in high school, but never thought she'd be this successful.

"I wanted my dream to become a reality," she said, all smiles. "I'm just so happy."

Linn-Mar High School nearly claimed both distance races Thursday, but junior Josh Evans was nipped in the boys 3200 meter run despite posting the 12th-fastest time in meet history in 9 minutes, 11.49 seconds. Unfortunately for Evans, sophomore Thomas Pollard of Gilbert ran the 11th-fastest time and won the race in 9:10.97.

Evans grabbed the lead with about 300 meters left, but Pollard took it back and withstood a strong kick by Evans.

Evans was still trying to catch his breath 10 minutes after the exciting race. He normally finishes a race, takes a deep breath and is ready for the next challenge. Not this time.

"I don't think I've ever been this tired," he said wearily. "My legs are burning."

Evans thinks he may have made his move too soon on the final lap. "Maybe it wasn't the wisest tactical move, but I'm still glad I made it," he said, preferring not to second-guess himself.

Evans nearly caught Pollard in the final 50 meters, but Pollard saw him coming and held him off. "I thought I could beat him," said Evans, "but he obviously had something left."

Jenks expected to race sophomore Rebekah Topham of Griswold, the defending Drake Relays champion in the 3000, but Topham withdrew from the race.

"I heard she was either injured or sick," said Jenks, who talked to Topham before the race.

Right before the event, Jenks looked into the stands and saw Topham sitting with Jenks' parents. Jenks waved to Topham and then took off on her road to victory. Jenks and Topham are friends from previous encounters.

"That meant a lot to me, that she was watching me race," said Jenks. "She could have been back in the hotel, playing video games or on the computer. But no, she was up here watching me race.

"I was disappointed she wasn't running."

Jenks took a 10-meter lead on the first lap, but Yanek caught up and it became a two-girl race the rest of the way. Jenks made her big move with about 300 meters remaining.

"My goal was to sit back and wait until whenever my body felt like running," she explained. "You just never know. Just let my body take control and do whatever it wants to do. And that's that."

Jenks chopped about three seconds off her personal best in the 3000 and has the fastest time in the state this year. She plans to run the 800 meter run on Friday, then compete in the 1500 meter run and 4x800 meter relay on Saturday.

Evans chopped about six seconds off his personal best in the 3200. He plans to compete in either the sprint medley or the open 800 on Friday, then finish the week in the 1600 on Saturday.

Shannon Gorman of Washington placed seventh in the 3000 in 10:19.18. Alyssa Averhoff of Kennedy was 17th (10:38.14) and Allison Culver of Kennedy was 18th (10:46.85).

Isaiah Vlasek of Prairie finished 17th in the 3200 in 9:43.94.

Breyana Cooper of Kennedy placed ninth in the girls long jump at 16-10 1/4. Brooke Lorenz of Linn-Mar finished 20th at 16-0 1/4.

Zach Borens of Marion finished ninth in the shot put at 52-0 3/4.

Willie Rhoads of Kennedy placed 12th in the high jump at 6-foot-3. Isaac Frazier of Marion tied for 15th at 6-foot-1.

DRAKE RELAYS
Thursday

Girls

3000 Meters
1. Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar) 9:46.02, 2. McKenzie Yanek (Pleasant Valley) 9:50.87, 3. Leah Seivert (Sibley-Ocheyedan) 9:59.59, 4. Anna Holdiman (Waverly-Shell Rock) 10:07.20, 5. Karissa Schweizer (Central Decatur) 10:07.21, 6. Jordyn Kleve (Johnston) 10:10.77; Also - 7. Shannon Gorman (CR Washington) 10:19.18, 17. Alyssa Averhoff (CR Kennedy) 10:38.14, 18. Allison Culver (CR Kennedy) 10:46.85

Discus
1. Kiana Phelps (Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central) 153-4 (Drake Relays record, old mark, 151-1, Taylor Freeman (Iowa City West) 2007), 2. Erin Bramble (Waukee) 139-6, 3. Brook Jacobsma (MOC-Floyd Valley) 139-5, 4. Sarah Pate (Osceola Clarke) 133-2, 5. Vicky Kapnisis (North Fayette) 133-0, 6. Sarah Kalkhoff (Newton) 130-7

Long Jump
1. Jalynn Roberts-Lewis (DM Roosevelt) 18-10.25, 2. McKennen Cronbaugh (Iowa City West) 18-7.25, 3. Lexus Lovan (Urbandale) 18-6.25, 4. Leslie Taylor (Mount Pleasant) 17-7.5, 5. Bailey Schminke (Boone) 17-5.75, 6. Chelsea Berry (Starmont) 17-4.5; Also - 9. Breyana Cooper (CR Kennedy) 16-10.25, 20. Brooke Lorenz (Linn-Mar) 16-0.25

Boys

3200 Meters
1. Thomas Pollard (Gilbert) 9:10.97, 2. Josh Evans (Linn-Mar) 9:11.49, 3. Caleb Drake (Pleasant Valley) 9:17.91, 4. Brook Price (Iowa City High) 9:21.92, 5. Chandler Austin (Boone) 9:23.79, 6. Isaac Steffensmeier (Fort Madison) 9:24.05; Also - 17. Isaiah Vlasek (CR Prairie) 9:43.94

High Jump
1. Jeff Giannettino (West Burlington Notre Dame) 6-8, 2. Jared Seay (Johnston) 6-7, 3. Braydee Poore (Mount Ayr) 6-7, 4. (tie) Daniel Schwarz (Fairfield) and Justin Randall (Burlington) 6-5, 6. Luke Arrowood (Algona) 6-5; Also - 12. Willie Rhoads (CR Kennedy) 6-3, 15. Isaac Frazier (Marion) 6-1

Shot Put
1. Shaquille Wells (Urbandale) 59-7.5, 2. Derrick Hurt (Newton) 56-3.75, 3. Jacob Campos (WDM Valley) 56-1.5, 4. Zach Samson (CMB Baxter) 55-5.25, 5. Justin Dunn (Mount Pleasant) 54-6, 6. Emmett Wester (Mount Pleasant) 53-10.75; Also - 9. Zach Borens (Marion) 52-0.75