Byrnes kicks off area state field with a medal

By Kristi Nixon

DES MOINES — Scarlett Byrnes fought off being boxed in early during her Class 2A 3,000-meter race and worked her way to her first state medal in the event, finishing eighth with a new personal best time by five seconds.

The sophomore, who ran to 15th in her first state meet a year ago in the same event, bettered her time from that meet by 40 seconds.

“I kind of knew the girls who were going to be around me and I knew that in order for me to medal, I was going to have to pass them,” she said. “And, once I passed them, I just kind of made sure they didn’t pass me again. It helped push my time to be better, too, because I think I got a PR.”

Despite being boxed for at least the first 200 meters, Byrnes worked her way out.

“I kept telling myself that maybe it was going to help me towards the end, saving that energy,” Byrnes said. “I stayed relaxed and then just waited for the straight backstretch to pass a bunch of people and I think that helped, saving a bunch of energy. I rebounded from it.”

After establishing herself in the top eight, Byrnes completed the run in 10:45.69.

Byrnes continued the tradition that is girls distance running at Osage.

“I’m excited because, like we had Kaitlyn (Johnston) last year,” she said, “and I’m glad that since she graduated, we have another distance runner. And, I didn’t make it in the 1,500 last year, so that was a big goal. I completed that goal, so I’m happy about it.”