NORWALK — Fort Dodge track athletes embraced the moment while flashing signs of the future at a state-qualifying meet here on Thursday.

While the Dodgers didn’t secure any automatic qualifiers, a pair of sophomore boys — Noah Daniel and Dalton Eckley — will likely land at-large state bids when the remainder of the field is announced on Friday.

Daniel took third in the boys 200-meter dash (22.50) and was fourth in the 100 (11.09). Eckley cleared six feet in the high jump to tie for fourth.

“This is a great learning experience for our guys because we’re just so young overall,” FDSH head coach Kevin Astor said. “I thought we performed really well, all things considered. We had nine events with personal bests. When you’re doing that at this time of the year, you’ll continue to make the progress you need as (the athletes) get older.

“Noah was outstanding again, and Dalton came up clutch. It’s always great when you see sophomores put themselves in a position to get (to Des Moines).”

Astor also applauded the efforts of freshman Cael Hansen, who almost slid under the five-minute mark in the mile and had a 2:07 split as the 800 anchor of the distance medley relay.

“Again, the future looks bright,” Astor said. “It’s incredibly difficult to compete at this level as underclassmen against the likes of Dowling, Waukee and other (CIML powers). We had quite a few freshmen and sophomores doing just that, and it will make them better (in the long run).”

The Dodgers’ 4×100-meter relay quartet of senior Omarion Myers-Zimmermann, sophomore Tytrell Mosley, freshman Kyree Rochon and Daniel placed sixth in 45.48.

Seniors Val Hensley, Zeke Pineda, Grant Behrens and Myers-Zimmermann competed in their final meets for Fort Dodge on Thursday.

“Our seniors gave their all,” Astor said. “We didn’t have many of them, but that doesn’t diminish their importance as leaders both on and off the track.”

On the girls’ side, FDSH freshman Ky’Mariana Mosley was sixth in the shot put (33-2) and seventh in the discus (101-8). The distance medley team of senior Lilly Davis, junior Meah McCaleb, sophomore Ava Wessels and freshman Maddie Hoshaw took sixth in 4:36.91.

“We had some nice efforts,” Dodger head coach Todd Constable said. “This was a good experience for the kids who will be coming back. We have a lot of underclassmen, and a few promising classes coming up from the middle school the next couple of years. So I’m excited about that.

“I want to take the time to recognize our seniors, though. Lilly worked her tail off this year. Kenzie (McIlrath) is so versatile and such a hard worker; we pushed her and she never complained. She’s the epitome of a Dodger and a four-year varsity letterwinner.

“Carsyn Zehr and Macy Brown provided leadership and put the time in as well. We appreciate everything the four of them did for the program.”

State-qualifying champions and runner-ups advanced automatically in Class 4A, with the next best 12 performances moving on as at-large qualifiers in each event.