Drake Relays: Subsin defends discus title

DES MOINES — Even if you didn't see it, you could hear it.

One big yell preceded on big throw on Friday. The type of throw that allowed Delilah Subsin to add to her incredible list of athletic accomplishments.

For the second straight year, the Ottumwa senior brought home a flag as a Drake Relays champion. Subsin successfully defended her high school girls discus championship with a throw of 154 feet and five inches beating out Iowa City High senior Rachel Haack by nearly eight feet for the title.

"When I hit 154-5, I knew I could do it, but it doesn't change the fact that the girls coming up after me could also do it," Subsin said. "Those girls are just as capable as I am. It relived some stress that I hit that mark, but I was still going to cheer for everyone else to throw it as far as I did."

One of those throwers that Subsin cheered on was Pekin senior Anna Hadley, who followed up a fourth-place finish on Thursday in the girls' shot put throw reaching 43-2.5 by moving into contention for the discus title on Friday with a throw of 147-4 moving within two inches of Haack for the lead. Hadley stayed in second place after a throw of 147-7 just moments after Subsin's best toss before finishing third overall after Haack's fifth throw of the competition traveled just two inches further than Hadley's top mark.

"I've only thrown over 130 feet once this year, so go that far over 140 feet is amazing," Hadley said. "I think the motivation of Delilah and Rachel, being able to compete against the best of the best, pushed myself to get up there."

Even with her title hanging in the balance, Subsin immediately turned her attention in between throws to shouting encouragement to her fellow finalists. The sportsmanship of the Ottumwa senior, both on Friday and throughout the past four years, has not gone unnoticed.

"Delilah is just the best human ever," Hadley said. "She's amazing at throwing, but she's an even better person. She's one of my favorite people to be around just because of how positive she is. She's not stuck up even though she's literally the best at this."

Subsin's positivity was even more remarkable considering the heavy heart she competed with this week. Subsin's grandfather passed away on Wednesday just hours before the Drake Relays girls shot put competition, where Subsin finished second overall to Burlington senior Kylie Hill with a throw of 45-9.75.

"I feel like it was all worth it," Subsin said. "Everything that was going through my head is to have fun and do it all for him."

Subsin wasn't the only athlete with Wapello County ties win at the 116th Drake Relays. Former Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont standout Kalen Walker won the men's university/college 100-meter dash, winning Saturday's final in 10.3 seconds after posting the top qualifying time on Friday in a time of 10.12.

"I was pretty nervous. This is a pretty big meet for me personally," Walker said. "It was about calming my emotions and taking care of business. I feel like people who are from other states don't really get it. It's kind of like an Iowa thing. It's special for us. It definitely makes me bring myself to another level."