State track & field: Boys’ primer

DES MOINES — The state track and field meet kicks off Thursday at Drake Stadium and runs through Saturday. The following is a primer on top boys' individuals and teams throughout the state, plus predictions on the team races:

CLASS 4A

Individuals to watch — Ryan Schweizer of West Des Moines Dowling is the state's premier distance runner these days. He'll compete in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and the medley relay. Cedar Rapids Prairie has a pair of aces in sprinter Jalen Rima (the 200 and 400 champion last year) and middle-distance man Tysen VanDraska, as well as hurdler Joah Wallace. Cedar Rapids Kennedy's field events are unmatched — Dalles Jacobus and Jackson Coker are threats to go 1-2 in both throws, and Shaun Beyer figures to contend in both jumps. Linn-Mar is the top seed in the 800 relay and the shuttle hurdle relay, and Daniel Gorsich and Gavren Dochterman are common denominators in both.

Teams to watch — It's a good bet that a member of the Mississippi Valley Conference will hoist the championship trophy Saturday, and a possibility that the MVC will sweep the top three spots. Kennedy and Prairie both are seeking their first title. The Cougars could score 40-50 points in the field events. Prairie, meanwhile, is equipped to make a late charge Saturday. Cedar Falls is the other MVC giant, and the Tigers are solid across the board. Defending champion Waukee won't go away quietly, and Schweizer is likely to help lift Dowling into the top five.

Projected top five — 1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 2. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 3. Cedar Falls, 4. West Des Moines Dowling, 5. Waukee.

CLASS 3A

Individuals to watch — If the district meets are any indication, the 100- and 200-meter races could be photo finishes by Brady Wall of Sergeant Bluff-Luton and Eli Hicks of Boone, who are separated by 3-hundredths of a second or less in both. Wall also anchors SBL's strong sprint relays. JoJo Frost of Center Point-Urbana ought to be a factor in four races. The junior is the top seed in the 400-meter dash and the 400 hurdles, and could contend in the 110 highs and the 1,600 relay. Myles Bach of Marion and Jack Young of Mount Vernon are among the top distance guys.

Teams to watch — It has been tricky to handicap this race all season, but Pella posted the best district effort and has emerged as a slight favorite in what could be a six- or seven-team free-for-all. The difference for the Dutch could come in the field events, in which they are seeded to score more than 30 points and favored in the discus and long jump. Sergeant Bluff-Luton figures to score big in the sprints behind Wall. The Wamac Conference boasts the last two 3A champs (Solon in 2014, Center Point-Urbana last year), and the league features three potential contenders (Mount Vernon, CPU, Vinton-Shellsburg) this time around.

Projected top five — 1. Pella, 2. Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 3. Mount Vernon, 4. Center Point-Urbana, 5. Boone.

• State track and field: Girls' preview

CLASS 2A

Individuals to watch — Isaiah Trousil leads the speedy sprint crew from West Burlington-Notre Dame. He is the 2A favorite in the 100 and 200, and anchors the top-seeded 400-meter relay. Nick Phelps of KP-WC (younger brother of Oregon signee Kiana Phelps) is the top seed in both throwing events. Cooper Koenig of West Branch won the long jump at the Drake Relays and is favored to claim the 2A title in that event. Matt Manternach keys Monticello's strong middle-distance brigade.

Teams to watch — West Burlington-Notre Dame proverbially lapped the field in 2015, racking up a 49-point margin for the 2A championship. It won't be as one-sided this time around, but the Falcons are the favorites to repeat. Monticello is poised to improve on last year's fifth-place finish, and probably rates as WB-ND's biggest threat. The Panthers are seeded to score in six events, and are rated second in a pair of relays. Albia won the Drake Relays 1,600-meter relay.

Projected top five — 1. West Burlington-Notre Dame, 2. Monticello, 3. Albia, 4. Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central, 5. Dike-New Hartford.

CLASS 1A

Individuals to watch — Northwood-Kensett's Tom Yezek is the small-school star of the show. The senior won the discus title at the Drake Relays, and his district fling of 187-1 tops the class by 19 feet. Mount Ayr's Kyle Dolecheck is the favorite in the 800, and a threat in the 400. Chad Blank of Nishnabotna enters as the top speedster; he's seeded in the top five in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. Keiffer Sexton of Highland and Reid Smock of Lisbon are the distance leaders.

Teams to watch — The list of contenders hadn't changed much from last year, and the favorite remains the same. Forty-five points won it for Lisbon in 2015, and a similar scoring harvest will probably do the trick again in a widespread competition. To repeat, the Lions need to get out of the gate quickly Thursday, in which they possess top-three seeds in three events (including the favored 3,200-meter relay). Lawton-Bronson and Mount Ayr tied for third last year, and figure to be two of Lisbon's top challengers this time around. A big output by Blank could move Nishnabotna into contention. The top seed in the 400 and 1,600 relays, Jesup could make a late charge.

Projected top five — 1. Lisbon, 2. Lawton-Bronson, 3. Mount Ayr, 4. Jesup, 5. Nishnabotna.

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