by Marianne Gasaway
“Three days of fun,” was the way Coach Shawn Puttmann described the 2023 State Track and Field Meet.
The Lions placed seventh overall in the Class 3A field, ranking among the school’s best State outings in its history.
Reese Brownlee was a big part of Clear Lake’s results. The sophomore was fantastic in the four events she qualified in. She became the first Clear Lake girl to win a running State title since 2011. She broke the tape in the 400 meters in a time of 56.34 to win a gold medal. Brownlee also earned third place finishes in the long jump and Sprint Medley and was fifth in the 200 meter run in a time of 25.87,
Brownlee captured the long jump title last year as a Class 2A competitor. This year the Lions moved up to Class 3A and she was topped by two outstanding seniors. She was third with a mark of 18’2.5”.
Coach Puttmann explained that Brownlee began the track and field season with a sore foot and would not always long jump for the team. Likewise, she wasn’t a regular competitor in the 400 meters.
“She ran the 400 only a handful of times during the season,” he said. “We knew, as coaches, that she was capable of running a low 400 time. She continues to come into the track season in shape, ready for the season to get underway.” The coach added that Brownlee puts in the time throughout the year to improve herself and in the fall will run cross country for the Lions.
After her win in the 400, Brownlee said she had been working on the 400 all year, but added that the competition at State made her better.
“Long jump has been my thing. I only started a few weeks ago thinking that I could win (the 400),” Brownlee told the media after her victory. “It was a lot harder, so it feels a lot more rewarding. Executing my plan was really cool, but it’s good to have the 400 over with.”
On Saturday, Brownlee anchored the Lions’ Sprint Medley Relay with Maddie Leisure, Lydia Brattrud and Emersyn McGrath. The team was third— a mere .006 behind second place Solon. Dubuque Wahlert won the event in 1:47.60. Solon came in at 1:48.216 and the Lions were third in 1:48.220.
Addison Doughan and Anna Feuerbach both set personal records competing in the 800 meter run. Doughan was 12th in 2:21.63 and Feuerbach was 21st in 2:25.96.
Doughan also qualified in the 1,500 and 3,000 meter runs. The sophomore’s highest finish came in the 3000, where she was fifth in 10:47.85. She was eighth in the 1,500 in 4:51.69.
Doughan was also part of the Lions’ Distance Medley Relay, which placed 21st in 4:24.93. Maddie Lesure, Lydia Brattrud and Rebekah Steinbron were the other members of the relay.
Also competing at State was Emersyn McGrath in the 100 meters, 24th in 13.37; and Emily McLaughlin, 15th in the 3000 in 11:24.90.
“The ten girls that competed down at state gave their best effort,” said Coach Puttmann. “We would have liked to have more events down at State, but we came up just short. The girls and coaches are already looking for the future for the track team. We had a blast!!
