Mount Vernon, Lisbon fast out of the blocks

Imagine the possibilities. Ryan Whitman and Casey Baxa have, after all.

'We've joked that if our teams were combined, we probably would have won (the Class) 3A (state championship) the last two or three years,' said Baxa, the boys' track and field coach at Lisbon High School.

Lisbon is the defending 1A state champion, and Mount Vernon is up a class to 3A after finishing fourth in 2A last spring. Yes, it's extremely early, but both teams have the ingredients to being title contenders next month in Des Moines.

'Really, it's pretty cool, we're a mile apart, and both teams might have a really good shot,' Baxa said.

'I think the sky is the limit for us,' said Whitman, in his sixth year as head coach at Mount Vernon. 'We're trying to stay humble, but we know that if we keep working, good things could happen.

'For early in the season, our times look great. But if those are still our times in three weeks, we're going to have to fix something.'

As of Wednesday, the Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in 3A (according to Quik Stats) in five events. Tristan Wirfs, a junior who has committed to play football at the University of Iowa, leads the class in the shot put (58-2 3/4) and the discus (166-11), Jack Young is tops in the 3,200 (9:55.60), and the 3,200-meter relay (8:14.22) and medley (3:43.97) also lead 3A.

'The throws and the middle-distance events, those have kind of been our strengths the last few years,' Whitman said. 'We've got a lot of work yet to do, but we've got kids who are willing to work.'

The middle distances are Lisbon's bread and butter, as well. The Lions have the best time so far in 1A in the 3,200 relay (8:37.61) and the medley (3:52.09). Jack Butteris rates second in the 400 (51.12), and Reid Smock and Thatcher Krob are strong distance runners.

Lisbon captured the small-school title last year despite the fact that it does not have a track. That hasn't stymied participation; 34 boys are on the roster.

'We've never used that as an excuse,' Baxa said. 'Cornell (College) has been great about letting us come over and work out.'

Mount Vernon's jump in classification actually might benefit the Mustangs. West Burlington-Notre Dame looks untouchable in 2A while 3A appears wide-open.

'It's a new challenge,' Whitman said. 'And we accept it.'

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