2016 boys’ track & field teams to watch

Area boys' track teams to watch this spring:

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY

* Coach — Curt Pakkebier

* Last year at state — 6th place in Class 4A, 45 points (32.5 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Dalles Jacobus, sr. (2nd, discus; 3rd, shot put); Shaun Beyer, sr. (3rd, high jump; 4th, shuttle hurdle relay); Austin Coates, sr. (4th, shuttle hurdle relay; 5th, 400 hurdles); Matt Gardner, sr. (4th, shuttle hurdle relay); Keeler Dix, soph. (4th, shuttle hurdle relay); Jackson Coker, jr. (6th, discus); Nick Duehr, jr. (7th, 1,600 relay)

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

* Coach — Bill Schwarz

* Last year at state — 7th place in Class 4A, 40 points (40 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Jalen Rima, sr. (1st, 200; 1st, 400; 5th, 100); Tysen VanDraska, sr. (2nd, 800; 2nd, 1,600)

CENTER POINT-URBANA

* Coach — Amy Marshall

* Last year at state — Class 3A champion, 56 points (26.25 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Wyatt Gatrost, sr. (1st, 1,600 relay; 2nd, 800; 2nd, 1,600 medley relay; 3rd, 3,200 relay); JoJo Frost, jr. (1st, 1,600 relay; 2nd, 400 hurdles; 8th, 800 relay); Kevin Ockenfels, sr. (3rd, 3,200 relay)

LINN-MAR

* Coach — Kyle Hoffman

* Last year at state — Class 4A runner-up, 53 points (26 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Daniel Gorsich, sr. (1st, 800 relay; 2nd, 400 relay; 2nd, shuttle hurdle relay; 4th, 110 hurdles); Griffin Freese, jr. (2nd, 400 relay); Zeal Baker, jr. (2nd, shuttle hurdle relay); Nick House, jr. (2nd, shuttle hurdle relay); Gavren Dochterman, sr. (2nd, shuttle hurdle relay); Michael Mather, sr. (3rd, 3,200 relay); Dalton Gosch, jr. (5th, 400); Ryan Murphy, jr. (8th, 3,200)

MONTICELLO

* Coach — Greg Williams

* Last year at state — 5th in Class 2A, 30.2 points (25.7 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Matt Manternach, sr. (1st, 3,200 relay; 3rd, 800; 3rd, 1,600; 5th, 1,600); Jordan Loes, sr. (1st, 3,200 relay); Derek Manternach, sr. (1st, 3,200 relay; 5th, 1,600 relay); Garrett Rieniets, sr. (5th, high jump); Noah Steiner, sr. (8th, high jump)

MOUNT VERNON

* Coach — Ryan Whitman

* Last year at state — 4th in Class 2A, 41 points (28.5 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Tristan Wirfs, jr. (1st, discus; 2nd, shot put); Jack Cochrane, jr. (2nd, 3,200 relay; 3rd, 1,600 medley relay); Jeremy Krogmann, jr. (2nd, 3,200 relay); Zach Krogmann, jr. (2nd, 3,200 relay); Mickey Hines, sr. (3rd, 1,600 medley relay); Cale Snedden, soph. (3rd, 1,600 medley relay)

More: Area individuals to watch

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com