J-Hawks already in fast form

CEDAR FALLS - The Jefferson J-Hawks aim to make the 'blue oval” even bluer.

'We're going for those Drake (Relays) flags,” Morgan Meese said. 'No doubt. It's our year.”

That's why they spent some of their offseason in the school pool, floaties wrapped around them, sprinting at full speed in the water.

'We went as hard as we could for 40 seconds at a time,” Lucy Schneekloth said. 'Luckily, nobody passed out.”

Yes, the sprinters at Cedar Rapids Jefferson are fast. And they're hungry.

Jefferson won their three trademark relays Tuesday at the Mississippi Valley Conference indoor girls' track and field meet at the UNI-Dome. The J-Hawks captured the shuttle hurdle relay (40.13 seconds), 800-meter relay (1:46.60) and 400-meter relay (50.27).

That's great for now. But the J-Hawks are pointing toward late April, where they will pursue those elusive white flags at Drake.

'We wanted them so bad last year,” said Jasmine Blue. 'It's our turn now. Today, we were trying to get some turnover and see where we are. We're ahead of where we were last year at this time.”

No team scores were kept Tuesday, and some teams kept their stars at home (Linn-Mar, for example). But Jefferson went for it, and was rewarded.

The J-Hawks were one of four teams to win three events - Iowa City West, Waterloo West and Dubuque Wahlert were the others.

If there's an indoor-season award for most improved runner, consider Cedar Rapids Prairie sophomore Hannah Frazee, who won the 3,000-meter race in 11:12.05. That's a 35-second improvement from her best effort of last season.

'I've been training twice a day all winter with my triathlon team,” she said. 'I can tell a big difference. This was very unexpected.”

Iowa City High's Rose Gamamou cleared 5 feet, 3 inches to claim the high jump title.

Gamamou, who stands just 5-3, moved from Iowa City since last season from Moline (Ill.), where she was a state placewinner and cleared 5-6 1/2 last year as a sophomore.

Gamamou very nearly cleared 5-5 on her second jump.

'I have until May to get it up there a little better,” she said. 'That second jump was close. I just need to pick my feet up a little more.”

Iowa City West got titles from Grace Young in the 60-meter hurdles, Olivia Moore in the 1,500 and its distance medley relay unit. Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Amarri Waller was the 60-meter champion, prevailing in a strong field in 7.64 seconds.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD: MVC INDOOR MEET

At Cedar Falls (No team scores kept)

Shot put - 1. Maddie Nilles (DW), 37-1 1/2; 2. Zainab Makky (ICW), 36-7 1/2; 3. Lannie Nietert (LM), 36-3 1/2; High jump - 1. Rose Gamamou (ICH), 5-3; 2. Grace Gudenkauf (DS), 5-1; 3. Patricia Sahr (WE), 5-0; Long jump - 1. Kitra Bell (WW), 16-3 3/4; 2. Allison Trenkamp (WW), 15-10; 3. Tianna Drahn (CRK), 15-6 3/4.

3,000 - 1. Hannah Frazee (CRP), 11:12.05; 2. Claire Ronnebaum (ICW), 11:19.81; 3. Emily Manders (CRK), 12:28.65; 3,200 relay - 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 10:05.05; 2. C.R. Jefferson, 10:34.39; 3. Dubuque Hempstead, 10:44.80; Shuttle hurdle relay - 1. C.R. Jefferson, 40.13; 2. C.R. Prairie, 40.59; 3. Iowa City West, 41.43; Distance medley relay - 1. Iowa City West, 4:19.12; 2. Iowa City High, 4:27.28; 3. C.R. Prairie, 4:34.74; 60 - 1. Amarri Waller (CRK), 7.64; 2. Rose Gamamou (ICH), 7.70; 3. Jasmine Blue (CRJ), 7.80.

400 - 1. Zoey Thune (WW), 1:03.31; 2. Valerie Welch (ICW), 1:04.30; 3. Molly Shepherd (ICH), 1:04.30; 800 relay - 1. C.R. Jefferson, 1:46.60; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:48.24; 3. Waterloo East, 1:52.00; 60 hurdles - 1. Grace Young (ICW), 9.44; 2. Abilene Ranschau (CRJ), 9.59; 3. Sam Kitterman (CRJ), 9.86; 800 - 1. Heather Muntz (DH), 2:28.76; 2. Jesse Skopec (ICW), 2:30.59; 3. Deanna Newhouse (LM), 2:33.45; 200 - 1. Allison Trenkamp (WW), 27.57; 2. Amarri Waller (CRK), 27.84; 3. Kirstin Shriver (CRP), 28.01; Sprint medley relay - 1. Cedar Falls, 1:57.69; 2. Iowa City High, 1:58.39; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:58.44; 1,500 - 1. Olivia Moore (ICW), 5:00.99; 2. Molly Shepherd (ICH), 5:05.78; 3. Jade Romagna (DW), 5:09.16; 400 relay - 1. C.R. Jefferson, 50.27; 2. Waterloo West, 53.30; 3. Dubuque Senior, 53.32; 1,600 relay - 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:12.68; 2. C.R. Jefferson, 4:25.16; 3. Dubuque Hempstead, 4:27.50.

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