DES MOINES - Although Spirit Lake Park graduated two runners from its 2008 3A State Champion 4x800-meter relay team, the Indians returned in 2009 to finish second.

The quartet of Alec Baldwin, Brandon Griffin, Tyler Gustafson and Jesse Baldwin finished the race in 8 minutes, 4.56 seconds-just under four seconds behind first-place Algona.

SLP coach Brad Travis said his team knew Algona was coming with their best runner, Chad Rutledge, as the Indians led until the final 800.

"It wasn't our best (time) of the year, but it was our second best," he said.

Gustafson, one of two seniors in the relay, said he just tried to maintain the lead that Alec and Griffin had given him.

"I think it's great (to place second)," Gustafson sad."I don't think we could have run any smarter than we did."

Fellow senior Jesse Baldwin said running the race was fun.

"It was a blast," he said. "It was the funnest race I've run all season. I ran may first leg (400) in 58 seconds like I have been in previous race."

According to coach Travis, splits for each runner are as follows: Alec (2:00), Griffin (1:57), Gustafson (2:02), and Jesse (2:03.

Dalton Kelley was the only other SLP boys participant on Thursday.

The sophomore finished 15th in the discus with a throw of 135 feet, 6 inches.

"Making it down here as a sophomore, he had his third-best throw of the season-which is a great throw for him," said Travis.