FIVE CROWNS

FIVE CROWNS

Schaefer wins three Drake and two state titles

         After winning his third Drake Relays event, senior Joe Schaefer was electrified. Winning the 1600, 800 and anchoring the 4x800 Schaefer made school history. But he was not satisfied with the season yet. “It’s amazing to win here and bring success to my school, but this isn’t my end goal,” Schaefer said. “I want to win a state title and complete the goals I set for myself this year.” 

          Schaefer was a varsity cross country and track runner all four years of his high school career. Once he finished cross country last fall, he went straight to newly-minted head track coach Matt Jaschen – who has also been his cross country coach for the four years – and asked him if they could put a plan together for track. “Coach Jaschen and I put together a plan after cross country season for how we wanted this track season to look,” Schaefer said. “He gave me a detailed training guide that I needed to follow in order to get to the next level.”

          Not only did Schaefer follow that plan to a tee, he executed it in a way not many have ever done at the highest level at Iowa High School Boys Track. 

         800 meter dash at the Drake Relays? Won and broke the school record his friend Grant Lair set last year.

         4x800 at the relays? Anchor leg to secure Johnston’s first-ever relay title at the event.

         1600 meter run? Another win.

         Yet like he said, those wins were great but were not his goal. Schaefer wanted to be a state champion. “It’s something you dream of as a kid, brining a state championship to Johnston and representing the school right, showing we are here to compete with everyone,” Schaefer said. 

          At state Schaefer admitted he did not run his best race in the 1600 or 4x800, finishing 10th and seventh respectively. Yet, he still managed to win the state title in the 800 meter dash, as well as anchor the shocking state championship win in the distance medley relay. When it was all said and done, Schaefer was a two-time state champion, three-time Drake Relay champion and the prestigious Drake Athlete of the Year. 

          Graduate Grant Lair (the 800 meter state champion from last year) realized the magnitude of what Schaefer accomplished.

        “Its special to see someone dominate the best of the best out on the oval,” Lair said. “I can’t put into words how cool it is to see him dominate like that and I know as ISU he will do the exact same thing.”