A group of freshman on this year’s Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers girls track team performed well in the first outdoor track meet of their high school career Tuesday night. The ADM girls track team won 12 total events at the Earlham Early Bird Invitational with a pair of first-year high school students taking first place in three individual events.

Hannah Welch tallied ADM’s third event victory of the evening with a top finish in the 3000-meter run. Her personal best time of 12:02.54 was a full 13 seconds faster than the field. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network caught up with Welch, and she says unlike most people, she likes running the longer distance events. “I like it because I (run) cross country, so (the 3000 meter) is like one mile less, so it’s almost easier, I feel like,” Welch said, “The long miles and constantly going above just made the mentality of doing the 3000 feel so much easier.”

Welch also won the 800 meter run for ADM in a photo finish, using a late burst down the final straightaway to edge Earlham’s Katie Noah by one-tenth of a second at 2:39.79. Welch was surprised by her finishing ability. “I was really proud of that because I felt like I didn’t have anything left,” Welch said, “I wanted to beat her, I wanted to try at least, and I gave it my all.”

Julia Case kept the ADM freshman in the spotlight later in the night with a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash, clocking the fastest quarter-mile in 1:06.77. Case told Raccoon Valley Radio after the race that she didn’t know what to expect from her first track and field meet. “Our coaches told us it was the first meet, especially as a freshman, so it might not be how you want it to be,” Case said, “It definitely went better than I expected.”

The ADM girls track team resumes their season in Grimes today, taking part in the DCG Early Bird Track Meet. First events start at 4:30 p.m. from Dallas Center-Grimes High School.