The No. 3 of the top ten moments countdown from 2018-19 brings the Tulip City high schools together at the famous Blue Oval at Drake Stadium. While the team trophy was more or less out of reach over the weekend for the defending champion Lady Dutch track and field team, their sprint squad remained a strength despite the graduation of three key sprinters who are competing at college. And for Pella Christian, a key group of returning state qualifiers — minus senior Morgan Fopma, who was still rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered in the fall, were able to navigate past a talented district final to compete in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

And in back-to-back races on back-to-back days at the 2019 State Track and Field Meet, the Lady Dutch quartet of Metsje Miller, Roselande Vanderhoff, Evie Armstrong, and Emily McMartin and Eagles group of Erica Nikkel, Chloe Morgan, Mary Kate Bandstra, and Avey Amelse both grabbed silver medals in the rain on Friday and in the homestretch of championship Saturday.

The 2nd place finishes over the four races highlighted the strength of sprinting events in the Tulip City on a state level, and both Amelse and McMartin said after the race how special it was to share a unique spotlight with their crosstown rivals.

INTERVIEW FROM STATE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY:

Both Pella and Pella Christian will miss Miller, Armstrong, and Bandstra, but the rest of the relay groups will be back and competing on the track next spring.