by By Vi Waln, Sicangu Scribe Scribblings
SIOUX CITY, IA – College track records are written in the scorebooks until someone like sprinter Robert Iron Shell dashes right past them.
Hard work, discipline and determination are what drives his athletic and academic success. Since starting with the Briar Cliff University track team he helped the relay team qualify for the Indoor Track & Field Nationals in March 2014. He finished that competition as an All American and placed 4th overall.
Iron Shell, who is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, currently holds the record for the 400 meter sprint at Briar Cliff University. He broke the previous record with a time of 48.44. He qualified for the Outdoor Nationals in the 400 meter race on April 17 at the Northwestern Invitational meet.
He also is a member of the 4x100m relay team. The team raced to a 41.73 finish at the Mount Marty Twilight meet which was held on April 22 in Yankton, SD. Their time tied the school record for the 4x100m relay.
Iron Shell is a 2013 graduate of Le Mars High School in Sioux City, Iowa. He was their star sprinter while in high school and was voted Track Team Captain as well as MVP. He led his high school team to the State Track meet for three years in a row.
In his senior year, Iron Shell was part of the winning 4x200m relay team who brought Le Mars High School their first state title since 2005.
As a Briar Cliff University freshman, Iron Shell is majoring in Nursing. He is the son of Rosalie Iron Shell and Moses Reina. Robert is a direct descendent of the late Sicangu Lakota Chief Iron Shell. He is the grandson of Carol Clifford of White River, SD and the late Calvin Iron Shell, Sr.
(Story used with permission by Vi Waln, Sicangu Scribe Scribblings. Vi can be reached at viwaln@sicanguscribe.com)
