DES MOINES - The Marion Indians got back in the hunt at the Class 3A state track meet Friday, but it could be a hunt for second place.

The Indians claimed the 4x200 meter relay Friday morning and finished Day 2 of the three-day event with 26 points, tied with Spirit Lake Park for second place in the 3A standings. Decorah holds first place with 47 points heading into the final eight events on Saturday.

Decorah could be hard to catch, but the Indians plan to give it their best shot. "We have potential, but we have to all perform," said Lukas Mees, who hopes to score points in the 1600 meter run on Saturday.

Marion began Friday with 11 points, but jumped to 21 with their victory in the 4x200 relay with Derek Williams, Isaac Smith, Cale Cannoy and Devin LeBeau carrying the baton. That brightened their prospects of challening for the 3A crown.

"I think it will put a little spark in us to get going," said Cannoy. "All the hard work we did this year paid off. I'm proud of my team."

The Indians have some firepower in the final events on Saturday, but they'll have to pile up points in a hurry to catch Decorah.

Zach Borens gave the Indians four valuable points when he finished fifth in the Class 3A shot put Friday with a heave of 52 feet, 9 inches on his last throw in the finals. Borens was sitting in seventh place when he stepped into the ring for the last time and topped his personal best by approximately two feet.

"I knew I had to do something to move up," said Borens, a big guy who measures 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds. "I let it all go, and if I scratched, I scratched."

Borens, a junior who hopes to play college football, had two thoughts as he prepared for his final throw.

"I really wanted to score as many points as I could for the team, and then I personally wanted to do the best that I have, so it worked out both ways," he said.

Marion finished eighth in the distance medley with LeBeau, Cannoy, Smith and Mees picking up one point in the team standings.

"I was hoping to get some points. We got one," said Mees. "It's not what we wanted."

They want much more on Saturday.

Friday's Class 3A boys results