Metro Sports Report

Foreman turns in fastest 400 hurdles time

Brooke Foreman clipped a hurdle and struggled at the end of her favorite race Saturday afternoon at the 25th Annual J-Hawk Relays, but it hardly mattered.

Foreman smashed a 23-year-old meet record in the 400 meter hurdles and ran the fastest time in the state this year, posting a 1:04.831 at Kingston Stadium.

She knew it was a meet record, but had no idea it was the fastest time in Iowa this spring. "Wow!" she exclaimed when told the news, breaking into a big smile.

Foreman, a junior at Cedar Rapids Washington, has been winning races all spring and was aiming for the record. "My coach was telling me I could get it," she said, but added, "I kind of died at the end."

Foreman clipped the next-to-last hurdle, undoubtedly costing her a few tenths of a second.

"Yeah, because when I land (after hitting a hurdle), I'm completely off-balance," she said. "I have to regain my stride, and it's just hard.

"I've never felt so bad on the last stretch. I just had to give it my all."

Shorthanded Warriors honor coach

One week to the day after the passing of Washington boys tennis coach Dave Meyer, the Warriors hosted the newly named Dave Meyer Warrior Invitational in his honor.

“The first half of the week was especially tough,” Charlie Hammond said. “But getting back to practice I think really helped us. We are closer as a team, just trying to push each other through all of this.”

Despite playing undermanned and with heavy hearts, Washington was able to finish in fourth place and crown one champion when Hammond and Ian Fischer swept their way through the seeded double group.

“It was a ‘Do it for Dave,’ mentality.” Fischer said. “It’s an honor coming here and winning for him. I feel like we kind of did him justice.”

Washpun gets scholarship offer from Tennessee

Cedar Rapids Washington senior Wes Washpun has been offered a scholarship to play basketball at Tennessee, and according to his high school coach it's now a two-team race between Iowa and Tennessee for the flashy 6-foot-1 point guard.

"Flip a coin," Washington Coach Brad Metzger said Saturday.

New Tennessee Coach Cuonzo Martin told Metzger Friday afternoon that he's decided to offer Washpun a scholarship, and Metzger quickly relayed the news to his star player.

Washpun's reaction? "The same as always," said Metzger, chuckling. "He said 'OK.' That's all he says to anything."

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery offered Washpun a scholarship earlier this week, and they met for more than an hour at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Thursday night without Washpun giving an answer.

Metzger said Washpun and his family are weighing the offers from Tennessee and Iowa. Washpun has said he plans to decide by Monday or Tuesday, prior to the national signing day on Wednesday. "He's kind of thinking it through," Metzger said.

Meanwhile, Virginia Coach Tony Bennett called Metzger and said he wanted to fly to Iowa this weekend, watch Washpun work out and offer a scholarship. "Wes said no," Metzger said.

Report: Semler headed to Kirkwood

All-state guard Kasey Semler of Marion High School has committed to play basketball at Kirkwood Community College, according to a report on KCRG Sports Saturday night.

Semler was the second-leading scorer in Class 3A this season at 21.2 points and helped the Indians reach the state tournament. He hit 41.9 percent of his 3-pointers.

Semler holds the school record for most 3-pointers in a career and surpassed 1,000 points to rank among the leaders in school history.