BISMARCK -- Bryce Messner didn't have to be told he was in for a good day. Seeing was believing for the Nelson County senior.
"I threw a 150-footer in warm-ups, so I knew it was going to be a good day," Messner said. "But I didn't see 160 feet coming."
To be exact, it was 160 feet, 3 inches -- the winning throw in the discus Friday for Messner in the opening day of the North Dakota Class B boys high school track meet. Messner was one of two area champions, as Thompson repeated as 4x800 relay champion in the girls B division.
It was a good day for Class B discus throwers. All eight placers exceeded their regular-season bests. None did so by more than Messner, who was seeded fifth with a season-best throw of 145-4.
He just missed 140 feet on his first two throws, then hit the winner on his third throw in prelims. Elijah Grady of New Town was second with a 158-11 throw. Top seed Garrett Pic of Park River area had a 155-4 throw to place fourth -- his fourth straight season with a top-six finish.
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"My goal was to place," said Messner, who plans to play football at North Dakota State as a preferred walk-on. "I'm looking to win shot put (where he's the top seed today). That's my stronger area. I didn't have any pressure today. I wasn't expected to do that much.
"But I think the environment at state, with so many people watching, really pumps you up. . . . Everything you're supposed to do right went right on that one big throw."
If pressure goes with high expectations, the Thompson 4x800 relay handled it well.
The quartet of Brooke Shimek (the lone senior), Averi Olson, Megan Bohlman and Shaice Marx not only won the race last season, but came in as the top seed. The Tommies led from start to finish, winning with a time of 10:05.84.
"It's our last year together, our last (4x800) race, so we had to do it," Marx said.
Shimek, who will go for her fourth straight state title in the 800 today, gave the Tommies a quick lead. Then Olson on the second leg opened up a big advantage that the Tommies never relinquished.
"I was really nervous," Olson said. "I could hear footsteps behind me when I got (the baton). I didn't want to lose the lead."
When Marx finally got the baton on the final leg, "I felt relaxed, we were so far ahead."
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The area almost had three champions. Nelson County's Ashley Perez was in a pack of four at the front of the girls 1,600 with 200 meters left. But Watford City's Asha Smith pulled away down the stretch to win in 5:20.32. Perez was second at 5:22.36.
"I was feeling pretty good (with 200 meters left), hoping I'd have a good kick left, and I think I did," Perez said. "But Asha had a better one. She was amazing."
Other area B placers Friday included:
Boys: Ryan Chrest, Pembina County North, long jump, fourth; Paul Tharalson, Drayton/Valley-Edinburg, pole vault, fourth; Jake Peterson, Larimore, pole vault, seventh;Nicholas Pedersen, Hatton-Northwood, 1,600, seventh; and Austin Contreras, Grafton, long jump, eighth.
Girls: Kylie Pastian, Hillsboro-Central Valley, long jump, third; Katelynn Engh, Benson County, 1,600, third; Jocelyn Dinius, Langdon-Munich, pole vault, fifth; Hillsboro-Central Valley 4x800 relay, fifth; MacKenzie Einarson, Grafton, pole vault, sixth; Annika Rotvold, Hillsboro-CV, 1,600, seventh; and Madison Gapp, Langdon-Munich, 1,600, eighth.
