By Chris Parker
Dora’s hopes for a boys team track championship took a hit at the sectional meet when Joshua Nold was unable to qualify for state in two of his individual events.
“We knew we were coming into state with two less events that were going to grab point or we believe to get points,” Coach Sheree Nold said.
The hopes were dashed even further when Cade Nold false started the 200-meter dash final on Saturday, which was the first a false start of his career. He was seeded second in the race.
“The 200 was unexpected; the biggest unexpected moment there was. In four years of racing he (Cade Nold) has never had a false start,” Coach Nold said.
That left the Falcons two events to work with to make up ground on first-place McAuley Catholic.
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The first step came in the 3200-meter run where Daniel Tomlinson ran a huge personal best for the second day in a row.
“Daniel Tomlinson our two-mile guy knew he could keep them in a good spot where it (a state championship) was still attainable,” Coach Nold said. “It gave him new momentum for running his two-mile. He hit almost a 30-second PR.”
Tomlinson placed third overall in a time of 9:50.48.
That left Dora six points back with just the 4×400 relay to go.
On Friday, Dora ran a 3:32.94 to qualify in third position with McAuley Catholic running a 3:34.27 to qualify in fifth position.
Even more adversity struck after the 3200-meter relay in the morning where an injury forced Coach Nold to alter the lineup and put Josiah Ward into the second position on the relay.
Coach Nold went down to give her team one final pep talk.
“I was in the stands thinking I need to talk to that team,” Coach Nold said. “I told them to lock eyes when they came down that homestretch. You lock eyes with that partner you are going to hand off to. Be a team. I encouraged them to pray, and they said they had already done that.”
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Dora sat in third after the first three legs with three-time Class 1 400-meter champion and record holder Cade Nold ready to take the anchor with a two-second deficit to deal with.
His coach, and mom, knew he could pull off the comeback.
“I know his (Cade’s) zone. He has chased down 50 meters or more in leads. I know his range. When I saw them come in on that (final hand off) and Dan handed it off and they were in third I thought ‘we have got this’,” Coach Nold said. “He came around this 120-meter corner and his hamstring seized up and he pushed through it the whole way down. It is fun to watch him chase down those last meters.”
Nold rode the wave of the crowd through the final 100-meters posting a 400-meter split of 48.61 leading to a 3:31.07 total time and a championship.
No other anchor leg ran faster than 50.24.
“You just get so hyped. The adrenalin is the highest it has ever been,” Cade Nold said. “The 4×4 is already a crazy exciting race, but coming through that homestretch that last little bit is a moment I can never forget. There is nothing else like it.”
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McAuley Catholic placed seventh overall which gave Dora the points needed to claim the team title.
“Just getting to run with these three other guys means a lot. This isn’t a one-man race. It took all of us and we all poured our hearts into this race,” Cade Nold said. “I was disappointed with the 200, but this has done more than make up for it. This is a moment I will never forget.”
Dora scored 44 points two ahead of runner-up McAuley Catholic with 42. Thomas Jefferson also earned a team trophy with a 34-point performance.
