Business as usual for Jefferson sprinters

CEDAR FALLS — A pair of new cubs have joined the Cheetah Girls, the speedy sprint outfit from Cedar Rapids Jefferson that seems to get faster by the year.

'I think we're surprising ourselves,' said Abilene Ranschau, one of the veterans. 'I think we're even surprising Coach (Bill Calloway), and that's hard to do.'

Ranschau and fellow senior Jasmine Blue, both of whom will run at the University of Northern Iowa next year, joined junior Autumn Anderson and sophomore MiAsia Bergmann in a pair of swift relays at the Mississippi Valley Conference girls' indoor track and field meet Tuesday at the UNI-Dome.

Jefferson captured the 800-meter relay in 1:45.30, then took the 400 relay in 50.01.

'We're way ahead of where we were last year at this time,' Blue said.

And that's saying something. Jefferson shattered its own all-time Iowa best in the 800 relay last year, running 1:39.24. The 400 relay matched the state record in 47.55.

Lucy Schneekloth and Morgan Meese have moved on. Enter Anderson and Bergmann.

'I think we're going to surprise some people,' Anderson said. 'It's just exciting to be a part of it.'

Calloway said, 'I thought these two would be able to fill in, but you never know for sure.

'We spend so much time with strength work. Speed comes down to stride frequency and stride length, and stride length is determined by leg power.'

Team scores were not kept Tuesday, but the J-Hawks and Iowa City West were the top teams, winning four events apiece. All four of the J-Hawks' first-place finishes were in relays; the shuttle hurdle (38.99) and 3,200-meter relay (10:12.78) also struck gold.

West, on the other hand, won four individual events, including a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,500-meter run that was led by Bailey Nock (4:57.85).

Valerie Welch, who finished second at state last year to Ranschau in the 100-meter hurdles, edged her Tuesday in the 60-meter hurdles. Welch was clocked in 8.65 seconds, Ranschau in 8.88.

Olivia Moore claimed the 800 (2:29.85) and Chandler Haight took the shot put (39-10).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy might have the MVC's most improved team. Amarri Waller led a 1-3 Kennedy finish in the 60-meter dash in 7.75 seconds.

'Our coaches are trying to make us more of a team,' Waller said. 'I think we'll have some really good sprint relays. Hopefully we can gain some respect this year, and other teams won't walk all over us.'

Cedar Rapids Washington claimed two events — Vanessa Eniola won the long jump (17-2 1/2) and Reagan Gorman prevailed in the 3,000 (10:46.12).

Other area winners were Iowa City High's Rose Gamamou in the high jump (5-4), Cedar Rapids Prairie's Kirstin Skriver in the 400 (1:01.75) and Linn-Mar's sprint medley relay (1:54.51), which was anchored by sophomore star Payton Wensel.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE GIRLS' INDOOR TRACK & FIELD MEET

At Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome)

(No team scores)

Shot put — 1. Chandler Haight (ICW), 39-10; 2. Megan Groneu (DH), 38-7; 3. Katie Halterman (CF), 36-10; High jump — 1. Rose Gamamou (ICH), 5-4; 2. Megan Renner (LM), 5-3; 3. Katie Beer (CRK), 5-3; Long jump — 1. Vanessa Eniola (CRW), 17-2 1/2; 2. Katie Beer (CRK), 16-5; 3. Kitra Bell (WW), 16-3.

3,000 — 1. Reagan Gorman (CRW), 10:46.12; 2. Claire Ronnebaum (ICW), 11:02.84; 3. Caroline Ross (CF), 11:46.80; 3,200 relay — 1. C.R. Jefferson, 10:12.78; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 10:13.89; 3. Iowa City High, 10:28.50; Shuttle hurdle relay — 1. C.R. Jefferson, 38.99; 2. Iowa City West, 39.31; 3. Dubuque Senior, 41.87; Distance medley relay — 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:29.91; 2. Iowa City West, 4:32.45; 3. Dubuque Senior, 4:32.57; 60 — 1. Amarri Waller (CRK), 7.75; 2. MiAsia Bergmann (CRJ), 7.87; 3. Cheyenne Mitchell (CRK), 7.93; 400 — 1. Kirstin Skriver (CRP), 1:01.75; 2. Zoey Thune (WW), 1:02.25; 3. Heather Muntz (DH), 1:03.34; 800 relay — 1. C.R. Jefferson, 1:45.30; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:50.87; 3. Iowa City High, 1:52.01; 60 hurdles — 1. Valerie Welch (ICW), 8.65; 2. Abilene Ranschau (CRJ), 8.88; 3. Kia Noibi (ICW), 9.43; 800 — 1. Olivia Moore (ICW), 2:29.85; 2. Cassidy Christopher (CF), 2:31.90; 3. Ellie Gretter (ICW), 2:35.78; 600 — 1. Paige Kvale (CF), 1:43.99; 2. Hannah Frazee (CRP), 1:46.59; 3. Ellie Osterberger (DW), 1:46.95; 200 — 1. Kerris Roberts (WE), 25.80; 2. Laura Sherman (DW), 26.02; 3. Jasmine Blue (CRJ), 26.12; Sprint medley relay — 1. Linn-Mar, 1:54.51; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:57.61; 3. Dubuque Senior, 1:57.94; 1,500 — 1. Bailey Nock (ICW), 4:57.85; 2. Gabby Skopec (ICW), 4:58.70; 3. Tia Saunders (ICW), 5:01.20; 400 relay — 1. C.R. Jefferson, 50.01; 2. Iowa City West, 52.31; 3. Dubuque Senior, 52.42; 1,600 relay — 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:10.87; 2. Iowa City High, 4:25.60; 3. C.R. Prairie, 4:26.40.

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