Next task for Linn-Mar's Evans: 9-minute barrier

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Nine minutes? It may be just a matter of time.When Linn-Mar's Josh Evans is healthy, just about anything seems possible.Evans smashed the 3,200-meter record at the John Ask Relays on Saturday at Kingston Stadium, racing through it in a very un-March-like 9 minutes, 14.95 seconds.That's only 3 1/2 seconds off his career best -- set last year at the Drake Relays -- and just 10 seconds away from the all-time Iowa best (9:04.33, by Jon Thomas of Des Moines Roosevelt in 2005)."It was pretty good," Evans understated, adding that there is a healthy amount of room for improvement. "I got out a little slow, and my sixth lap, I died off a little bit."Despite winning just one event, Cedar Rapids Prairie captured its first John Ask team title.The Hawks compiled 118.5 points behind Michael Lamparek's discus title (he threw 139 feet, 10 inches) and nine second-place finishes. Iowa City West, which had won here three straight years, settled for second Saturday with 113 points. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (99) was third; defending Class 4A state champion Linn-Mar (82) was fourth.A senior bound for Iowa State, Evans ran a fast, balanced race, completing the first 1,600 in 4:38 and finishing in 4:37. He was in front, alone, quickly and broke the old record -- which had stood since 1987 -- by more than 11 seconds."I think I have a fairly good sense of pace," Evans said. "I knew, even though I was alone, where I should be at."He won't be alone when the big races -- the Drake Relays, the state championships -- come along later. His body has betrayed him at times through his high school career, but he's at full strength now."I want to run under 9 minutes," he said. "My goal is 8:55. I'm going to have plenty of company. I think there will be about five guys right around 9 minutes."Evans ran a 1:58.4 split to bring the Lions from behind in the medley relay.Kennedy's shuttle hurdle relay foursome joined Evans as record-breakers. Famiek Cook, Derek Jacobus, Marcus Perkins and Shaun Beyer finished in 58.61 seconds.Cook was a triple-winner, also taking top honors in the long jump (21 feet, 1 3/4 inches) and the open 200 (22.73 seconds)."The 200 was probably my highlight today," Cook said. "I wanted to try something new this year. I'm liking it a lot. I felt really comfortable."Beyer led a 1-2 Kennedy finish in the high jump (6-0) and Perkins ruled the 400-meter hurdles (57.17).West matched Kennedy by winning five events. Kaleb Greiner took the 400, Andrew Gilbaugh won the 110 hurdles, Daniel Gardarsson captured the 1,600 and the Trojans reigned in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays.Host Cedar Rapids Jefferson showed some might in the sprints. Shaquille Harbor was the 100-meter champion in 11.36 seconds, then the J-Hawks won the 800 relay in 1:31.33. Cedar Rapids Washington's 400 relay won in 44.65 seconds.Linn-Mar's Tanner Rathje won the 800.

JOHN ASK RELAYS

At Kingston Stadium

Teams -- 1. C.R. Prairie 118.5, 2. Iowa City West 113, 3. C.R. Kennedy 99, 4. Linn-Mar 82, 5. C.R. Jefferson 67.5, 6. Bettendorf 46, 7. C.R. Washington 32.

Shot put -- 1. Wade Webster (Bett), 53-1 1/2; 2. Drew Heitland (CRK), 49-9; 3. Jess Jacobsen (Bett), 47-4 1/2;

Discus -- 1. Michael Lamparek (CRP), 139-10; 2. Jess Jacobsen (Bett), 132-6; 3. Jacob Nelson (ICW), 132-5;

High jump -- 1. Shaun Beyer (CRK), 6-0; 2. Christopher Krystofiak (CRK), 5-8; 3. Ty Bolden (CRP), 5-6;

Long jump -- 1. Famiek Cook (CRK), 21-1 3/4; 2. Anthony Batie (ICW), 20-8 1/4; 3. Derek Jacobus (CRK), 19-10 1/4.

3,200 -- 1. Josh Evans (LM), 9:14.95*; 2. Mitch Pritts (CRP), 9:37.25; 3. Tanner Rathje (LM), 9:45.99;

3,200 relay -- 1. Iowa City West (Greiner, Karanja, Brase, Marvin), 8:12.38; 2. C.R. Prairie, 8:25.26; 3. Linn-Mar, 8:39.32;

Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. C.R. Kennedy (Cook, Jacobus, Perkins, Beyer), 58.61*; 2. Iowa City West, 1:01.52; 3. C.R. Jefferson, 1:03.09;

100 -- 1. Shaquille Harbor (CRJ), 11.36; 2. Trevor Northrup (CRP), 11.38; 3. Tim Wolfe (LM), 11.40;

400 -- 1. Kaleb Greiner (ICW), 52.71; 2. Luke Howes (CRP), 53.39; 3. Michael Young (Bett), 53.41;

800 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson (Beaton, Karlan, Larson, Chittick), 1:31.33; 2. Linn-Mar, 1:31.82; 3. C.R. Prairie, 1:31.83;

110 hurdles -- 1. Andrew Gilbaugh (ICW), 15.35; 2. Savaun Bounds (CRJ), 15.88; 3. Keagan Pinter (CRP), 15.98;

1,600 -- 1. Daniel Gardarsson (ICW), 4:28.12; 2. Jake Moore (CRP), 4:45.53; 3. Abdallah Ali (ICW), 4:54.69;

200 -- 1. Famiek Cook (CRK), 22.73; 2. Jalen Rima (CRP), 22.90; 3. Dylan Chittick (CRJ), 22.94;

400 hurdles -- 1. Marcus Perkins (CRK), 57.17; 2. Keagan Pinter (CRP), 58.01; 3. Isaiah Nimmers (CRW), 59.37;

1,600 medley relay -- 1. Linn-Mar (Wolfe, Freese, Gosch, Evans), 3:37.76; 2. C.R. Prairie, 3:38.74; 3. (tie) C.R. Kennedy and Iowa City West, 3:50.95;

1,600 medley relay -- 1. Linn-Mar (Wolfe, Freese, Gosch, Evans), 3:37.76; 2. C.R. Prairie, 3:38.74; 3. (tie) C.R. Kennedy and Iowa City West, 3:50.95;

800 -- 1. Tanner Rathje (LM), 2:01.66; 2. Daniel Gardarsson (ICW), 2:03.82; 3. Noah Brase (ICW), 2:06.06;

400 relay -- 1. C.R. Washington (Herzog, Akers, Bolden, Taylor), 44.65; 2. C.R. Jefferson, 44.77; 3. Iowa City West, 45.27;

1,600 relay -- 1. Iowa City West (Gilbaugh, Baller, Greiner, Karanja), 3:32.24; 2. C.R. Prairie, 3:34.54; 3. Linn-Mar, 3:38.14.*meet record