Published: May 15, 2008 10:19 am            

Setting the gold standard

Mettler dominates state track meet distance events

DUNCAN — Dustin Mettler entered the track season on the heels of an All-State year in cross country, but unsure of the success he would reach as the Duncan Demons’ top distance runner. Three gold medals at this year’s state track meet solidified his status as Class 5A’s most dominant distance runner.

Mettler won the mile, two-mile and 800-meter events, earning the Demons 30 points and helping a resurgent DHS squad take third overall. Mettler acknowledged it felt good to know that every meet meant guaranteed points for his team.

“It was awesome to know my team depended on me, and I could come through for them,” Mettler said. “There was a lot of hard work into making the season successful.”

Mettler, who dominated the 1600 and 3200 events during the regular season, entered the state meet seeded 12th in the 800. Though it wasn’t his strongest event, he pulled off his highlight race of the season. Mettler clocked in at a personal record 1:58.05, edging Deer Creek’s Eric Fairbairn by at 15th of a second.

“I made a dramatic move and it worked out,” Mettler said. “I was just challenging for a medal, but I reserved a little bit of kick throughout the race. When it was time to kick, I outkicked all of them. It was a crazy race.”

Mettler’s progression from last season to now is exponential, considering his only state medal came in a fourth-place finish in last season’s 3200. Mettler took eighth in the 1600 and didn’t qualify in the 800.

“I matured a lot, got stronger and gained more speed since last year,” Mettler said. “I ran a lot of quarter repeats to help with my speed, and just kept working on my endurance. I just worked hard.”

Mettler’s effort was indicative of the entire Demons’ team this season. Duncan qualified in all of the state events but one, a stark improvement from last year.

“We had strong field events last season, but I was the only runner to qualify for state,” Mettler said. “We only missed out in the 200 this year, so it was a major change. It felt good to be on a great team and make a run at the title.”

Mettler added that the improvement of DHS’ 4x800 relay team (Clint Sylvester, Kris Vereen, Robert Trujillo and Mettler) was one of proudest moments of the season.

“Last year, we would finish last, but this year, whenever I got the baton, we were always in first,” Mettler said. “We all ran under 2:10 at state, and that was impressive.”

In the meantime, Mettler is preparing for his freshman season as a cross country runner and distance track runner for Cowley Community College. Riding into college on the wave of a dominant senior season, Mettler has set the bar high for himself.

“I want to be an All-American,” he said. “I know I have to make the varsity team first, but that is my goal for freshman year.”©

        

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