State track and field: Girls’ glance

DES MOINES - Taking a peek at the top individuals and team races in the girls' portion of the state track and field meet Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium.

CLASS 4A

Individuals to watch - You can make the argument that Linn-Mar's Stephanie Jenks is Iowa's best distance runner of all-time. She holds the all-time Iowa best in the 3,000 meters and ranks No. 3 in the 1,500. Last month at Drake, she swept the 800, 1,500 and 3,000. She's the favorite in all three, and should push for a top-five spot in the 400 hurdles. Freshman teammate Payton Wensel is a budding star in the middle distances. Pleasant Valley's Carly Donahue will contend in both hurdles races. Iowa City High's Sarah Plock, the top female performer at the Drake Relays, is bidding to become only the second Iowa girl to run sub-60 in the 400-meter hurdles, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson's sprinters - Lucy Schneekloth, Jasmine Blue, Abilene Ranschau and Morgan Meese - have their sights set on the all-time Iowa best in the 400- and 800-meter relays.

Tracking the team race - Pleasant Valley owned the 2014 team title for about two months, then it was taken away after it was determined that middle-distance star Kaley Ciluffo had violated the state's eligibility rule. Ciluffo is gone from the program now, but Pleasant Valley is a top contender again, along with Waukee. The Spartans have the top seed in five events; Waukee is No. 1 in the 100 and distance medley relay and second in four others. Linn-Mar has a legitmate shot at earning the Metro's first championship in girls' track. Jenks is good for about 35 points, and Wensel and Amber Decker spearhead the middle distances. Jefferson is top-seeded in three relays, and could make the top five, as could defending champion Urbandale.

How they'll finish - 1. Waukee, 2. Pleasant Valley, 3. Linn-Mar, 4. Urbandale, 5. Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

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CLASS 3A

Individuals to watch - Mount Pleasant has a long history of outstanding hurdlers, and senior Kelsi Phipps is the latest star. Phipps is the top seed in the 100-meter hurdles, and will anchor the Panthers' favored shuttle hurdle relay. Kari Dufoe of Adel ADM is the sprinting star; she's favored in the 100 and 200, while Boone's Dianna Slight will challenge her in the 200 and enters as the top 400 seed. Shelby Gunnells of bids to extend Solon's streak of superiority in the shot put to three straight years; she is the defending 3A champion and a two-time Drake champ. Joy Ripslinger spearheads Davenport Assumption's talented distance crew.

Tracking the team race - Big-city private schools have owned this division for the past four years, with Dubuque Wahlert reigning in 2011 and 2012, then Davenport Assumption claiming the top spot each of the last two years. It's not a bad bet that one of them will capture the crown this year, though it could be a crowded race at the top. Assumption won the 3,200-meter relay at Drake, and the Knights have shifted their strength from the sprints to the distances this year. Wahlert is the top seed in the 400- and 800-meter relays, and have a likely big scorer in Maddy Nilles in the throws. Decorah, Pella, Mount Pleasant and Boone could enter the title race as well. Decorah has the regional 3,000 leader in Amanda Taylor, and could sweep the medleys.

How they'll finish - 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 2. Davenport Assumption, 3. Decorah, 4. Pella, 5. Mount Pleasant.

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CLASS 2A

Individuals to watch - Saint Ansgar senior Natalie Halfman is in position for a wildly successful weekend. Halfman enters with the top regional effort in the 100, 200 and 400 (with a sizzling time of 55.72), and anchors the Saints' sprint medley relay, which also is seeded No. 1. She'll get stiff competition in the 200 and 400 from Clayton Ridge's Jasmine Staebler, an Iowa State recruit who won both of those events last year, as well as the 800. She's a three-time champ in the 400. Osage freshman Ellie Friesen is the favorite in the 1,500 and will anchor the Green Devils' top-seeded distance medley relay. Kingsley-Pierson/Woodbury Central's Kiana Phelps is worth the walk to the discus area; she holds the all-time Iowa best in that event at 179 feet, 7 inches.

Tracking the team race - Yes, Osage had a weather advantage at regionals, waiting a day to run after being postponed on a rainy Thursday last week. But the Green Devils took advantage and bring a stacked team to Des Moines. Friesen is one reason, but Osage also has sprinters that can score, and that makes them the favorite. The chase pack is crowded, and could consist of as many as seven teams. Clayton Ridge has a proven commodity in Staebler, and Mount Vernon is seeded to score in six relays. Halfman alone makes Saint Ansgar a factor, and Western Christian is peaking at the right time. If Osage slips a bit, this could be a wild, wild race.

How they'll finish - 1. Osage, 2. Clayton Ridge, 3. Mount Vernon, 4. Saint Ansgar, 5. Western Christian.

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CLASS 1A

Individuals to watch - You can close the book on one of the most successful small-school distance careers this weekend; Rebekah Topham of Griswold will try to add to her collection of nine individual state titles. A Wichita State recruit, Topham has been slowed somewhat by illness this season. She'll go head-to-head with North-Linn's Nicole Miller in the 800, and Miller could go down as the state's most prolific relay champion - she has seven titles with a baton in her hand, and she'll anchor the Lynx's 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays and distance medley, all of which are seeded No. 1. Maddie Bell of Hudson is the favorite in the 400 and anchors the Pirates' top-seeded sprint medley relay.

Tracking the team race - You'd think that North-Linn, which returns everybody that scored in last year's title run, would be an overwhelming favorite. But it's not the case. Last year's 2A runner-up, Hudson is down a class and has title designs of its own. The Pirates are seeded No. 1 in four events (Bell in the 400, plus the 400- and 800-meter relays and the sprint medley). Plus, they are projected to score well in the field events. North-Linn counters with Miller's four potential winners, and could get a lift from Maddie Boer in the 400 hurdles. The Lynx are a title threat in the shuttle hurdle relay and ought to score well in the 400 relay. Pekin, Griswold and Sioux Central are the best of the rest.

How they'll finish - 1. Hudson, 2. North-Linn, 3. Pekin, 4. Griswold, 5. Sioux Central.

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