Kentwood’s star sprinter Holly DeHart fought through an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms and nerves to bring home her first state gold medal in the 200-meter dash.

DeHart won the event on Saturday, the final day of the 4A state meet, in the time of 25.35 seconds.

“This was something I have been working for,” DeHart said after the race. “I’m very happy.”

She ran third in the 100 in 12.62 and she helped the Conquerors place third in the 4 x 200 relay in 1:42.91.

The strong finish to a strong junior season proved to be bittersweet for the Kentwood standout.

“I am happy, but I didn’t accomplish what I had hoped for,” she said. “I think there was a lot of stuff that played into (my performance). I threw up everything I ate that morning. I couldn’t keep anything down. When I went to run the 4 x 200, my legs were dead. I just figured I had to get over it because it was the last meet (of the season). The night before, there were a lot of nerves. I couldn’t sleep and I kept thinking about how I was going to run.”

Despite feeling ill, DeHart’s performance helped the Conquerors finish in sixth place with 35 points. It’s the best finish in program history. Kent-Meridian finished in 18th with 13.83 points, Kentridge took 31st with 8.33 points while Kentlake, behind three eighth-place finishes from Madelayne Varela (100, 200 and 400) took 42nd with three points.

After winning the South Puget Sound League North Division title, the Conquerors had dreams of finishing among the top four. Despite finishing just out of the trophy race (the top four teams bring home a trophy), the Conquerors had several other strong performances.

Alyx Toeaina took fourth in the discus at 125 feet, 7 inches, and fifth in the shot put, 39-10. The 4 x 200 relay team of DeHart, Aiesha Goodlow, Quincie Proctor-Guyton and Dana Wareham brought home third (1:42.91). Meanwhile, Kentwood’s 4 x 400 relay team (Proctor-Guyton, Megan McNally, Alena Davis and Wareham) took fifth (3:59.62).