DES MOINES - Isaac Wendland knows how to win races.

He also understands that sometimes second place is the best you can do.

The Charles City star distance man took that approach Thursday to the Comets' runner-up effort in the Class 3A 4 x 800 relay.

When Wendland got the baton and began his anchor leg, Spirit Lake Park owned the lead. Charles City stood in fourth place. Aggressive all the way, Wendland lifted the Comets from fourth to second.

Spirit Lake Park won the 3A 4 x 800 in 8 minutes, 00.66 seconds. Wendland's 1:53.6 split on the anchor leg gave Charles City an overall time of 8:02.83.

"It was all guts right there," said Wendland of his closing kick.

The Indians exceeded their personal best by eight seconds. Charles City ran five seconds below its top effort of the year.

"You can't ask for any more than that," said Wendland. "They brought me close enough. I'm happy with the result."

The meet is far from over for Wendland. He'll compete in the 3A open 800, the medley relay and go for an unprecedented fourth straight title in the 1,600.

"It went well today," said Wendland. "We'll see what else happens."

While Anamosa senior Colten Kelly set a Class 3A record in the high jump with a best of 6 feet, 11 inches, Independence's Drew Campbell finished a solid second. Campbell cleared 6-5.

Hudson junior Channing Puls began his 2A state meet with a third in the long jump. He ended his first day at state with a share of a record-setting effort in the preliminaries of the shuttle hurdle relay.

Matt Finn, Tanner Wright and Jeff Dunnwald joined Puls, and the Pirates produced a 57.60 under the 57.80 chalked up by Dyersville Beckman in 2007.

The boys' shuttle hurdle relay was brought to the state meet a year ago.

Among other area boys

Wapsie Valley's 4 x 800 relay team was eighth in 1A.

Chris Keninger of AGWSR took the same spot in the 1A 400 dash.

Osage's John Medlin was fifth in the 2A 3,200 meters.

Iowa Falls-Alden's Keaton Rickels sprinted to fourth in the 3A open 400.

Evan Neubauer of Decorah took seventh in the 3A 3,200.

Union High's Rory Hennessey captured sixth in the 3A discus.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com