Blay becomes 10-time state champion with distance double
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Nodaway Valley senior Riley Blay holds up a 10 as he crossed the finish line for his 10th state title on Saturday in Jefferson City.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — There are lots of gaudy numbers that describe Riley Blay’s track and field career. However, the simplest one is 10.
“The plan was to beat my dad in state titles,” Blay said. “He has five, so I was hoping to get five or six. But not 10. I did not expect to have 10 state titles.”
Between cross-country and track and field, the Nodaway Valley senior has racked up 10 state titles in the past three years. That included 3-peats in cross country, the 3200-meter run and 1600-meter meter run as well as the state title in the 800-meter run his sophomore season.
“It is a blessing,” Blay said. “I couldn’t give (enough) credit to my dad and my brother for training me all these years. They are a blessing to my running career and I am blessed to have them.”
Blay finished his Thunder career with a full-circle moment in his best event — the 3200-meter run. As a freshman, Blay finished third in that race as his brother Tyler Blay won it with a Class 1 record 9:34.49.
On Friday, Riley Blay originally was just trying to win the race, but as it went on, 9:34 began entering Blay’s mind. Newtown-Harris’ Gauge MacGregor went out strong with Blay for three laps as the pace kept that record possible.
Blay pulled away during the fourth lap and ran the final five laps solo, but kept the pace. His final lap was his fastest of the day with a 1:06.46 on his last lap to finish with a 9:32.56 to break his big brother’s record and beat McGregor by 38 seconds.
“I’m going to hold this one closer to my heart than any other one,” Blay said of the state title beating Tyler’s time.
On Saturday, Blay started with the 1600-meter run and was able to cruise with a 4:23.73 for a comfortable 8-second win over McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon. Blay held up a one on one hand and a zero on the other as he crossed the finish line for his 10th state title.
“I was happy for that kid who took it out because I didn’t want to do any of the work,” Blay said. “I was trying to save most of it for the 800.”
Blay added to the medal count with what he gleefully declared afterwards was the last 800-meter race he’d ever have to run. Blay was trapped early in the race and was in ninth place after one lap.
“I don’t think there was a point in that race where I didn’t have an arm on me or my feet were getting tangled up,” Blay said. “So I think I could have broken two if I didn’t get tangled up every step of the way, but I guess I’ll take it.”
He rallied to a third-place finish behind Dora’s Cade Nold and Parrigon with a season-best 2:00.41.
“You gotta work hard to be good,” Blay said.
Nodaway Valley ended up medaling in all seven events they participated in at state.
Junior Paige Hanson was second in the 1600-meter run with a personal-best 5:25.88 and seventh in the 800-meter run with a season-best 2:27.94.
“It is my first year doing distance and just being able to work hard all year and make it here was pretty amazing,” Hanson said. “… I feel like I switched gears pretty well from sprints to distance and my coaches played a huge part in that. They helped me get where I was with all the workouts and getting me conditioned.”
Hanson teamed with Madeline Wilmes, Bella Walker and Ellie Wilmes in the 4×400-meter relay with a 4:19.11 to finish fifth overall.
“It was really fun to do it with the team,” Walker said. “We put in a lot of work together, and went through a lot of workouts and miles together. So it feels really special to have it all be rewarded.”
Junior Ava Graham was second overall in the shot put with a 11.72-meter throw.
“I was really happy,” Graham said. “I was hoping for first, but everyone does. Everybody wants to win state. … I think this is what I needed. It was very humbling this year and I feel like I needed this to really get myself into gear and really kick it next year.”
