State track: Boys form chart

DES MOINES - The state track meet is Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the boys' competition (projections are based on regional results).

(SCHEDULE)

(QUALIFIERS, HEAT & LANE ASSIGNMENTS)

CLASS 4A

Individuals of impact -- Linn-Mar has an elite sprinter in

Perrion Scott, who leads the field in the 100 and anchors the No. 1 400- and 800-meter relays. It also has

Josh Evans, the Drake Relays Outstanding Male Performer who ranks among the leaders in the 1,600 and 3,200. Des Moines Roosevelt's

Sydne Davis is the favorite in the 400 hurdles and a title hopeful in the 110 highs. Cedar Rapids Kennedy's

Famiek Cook and

Derek Jacobus are on the state's top-rated shuttle hurdle relay team, and both are at the top of the chart in the long jump.

Teams to watch -- Three little letters: M-V-C. It's almost a given that the champion will come from the Mississippi Valley Conference, and possible that the top five teams all will hail from the MVC. Defending champion

Iowa City West is in a too-close-to-call race with

Linn-Mar. Both teams will score big and often on the track, and both are a little light in the field events. If anybody rises up to challenge those two teams, it could come from the MVC pack of

Cedar Falls, Iowa City High and

Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Projections -- 1. Iowa City West, 2. Linn-Mar, 3. Cedar Falls, 4. Iowa City High, 5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 6. Waterloo West, 7. Waukee, 8. Des Moines Lincoln, 9. Sioux City East, 10. Clinton.

CLASS 3A

Individuals of impact -- Fort Madison has some heavy hitters, led by

Raheem Black, the top seed in the 400-meter dash and the 400 hurdles.

Jared Ganschow of Clear Creek Amana ran under 22 seconds in the 200, and under 50 in the 400. He's a title hopeful in both. Drake Relays 3,200-meter champion

Thomas Pollard of Gilbert is seeded second in that event this week.

Teams to watch -- This is the most wide-open of any of the team races, with four teams in a near dead-heat. Though seeded to score in a modest six events,

Fort Madison is No. 1 in three of them and rates a slight favorite. Southeast Conference rival

Mount Pleasant is projected to score big in the field events (including 1-2 in the shot put). 

Glenwood figures to nickel-and-dime its way into contention, and

Pella is tops in the 3,200 relay.

Projections -- 1. Fort Madison, 2. Mount Pleasant, 3. Glenwood, 4. Pella, 5. Boone, 6. Solon, 7. Clear Creek Amana, 8. Sioux City Heelan, 9. Keokuk, 10. Marion.

CLASS 2A

Individuals of impact -- Ida Grove OA-BCIG senior

Trever Ryen enjoyed a spectacular district meet, one that launched him to the top of the 2A chart in the 100 and 200, as well as the 400- and 800-meter relays. Monticello has four different top-seeded individuals --

Ben Ahlrichs (800),

Michael Melchert (1,600),

Brian Turnis (400 hurdles) and

Devonte Merrill (discus).

Teams to watch -- Go ahead and crown

Monticello. The Panthers are absurdly loaded in the distance events; they're seeded to score 45 points in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. They are top-seeded in six events, and with a strong effort could approach 100 points. That could be more than twice that of its nearest competitor. Ryen's speed could send

Ida Grove OA-BCIG to second place while

Dyersville Beckman figures to push for third.

Projections -- 1. Monticello, 2. Ida Grove OA-BCIG, 3. Dyersville Beckman, 4. Camanche, 5. Baxter CMB, 6. Cascade, 7. West Liberty, 8. Northeast, 9. Colfax-Mingo, 10. Albia.

CLASS 1A

Individuals of impact -- Belmond-Klemme senior

Logan McKenna brings the top time in the 100 and 200 to Des Moines.

Brody Eischeid of Manson-Northwest Webster leads the 400 by almost 2 seconds at 48.76, and is slated to anchor two top-rated relays.

Austin Springsteen assumes the distance mantle at Lisbon from now-departed Conner Smock; he's No. 1 in the 1,600, No. 2 in the 3,200.

Teams to watch -- The pick is

Manson-Northwest Webster to repeat, because of heavy hitters McKenna and Josh Markert, the long jump favorite. The Cougars are top-seeded in four events (400, 400 relay, 1,600 relay, long jump). Distance stars Springsteen and Caleb Morningstar, plus shot putter Keegan Tritle, give

Lisbon a shot to be in the chase group, along with

Wapsie Valley, which is seeded to score in seven events.

Projections -- 1. Manson-NW Webster, 2. Lisbon, 3. Wapsie Valley, 4. Lynnville-Sully, 5. Pleasantville, 6. West Lyon, 7. Ackley AGWSR, 8. Earlham, 9. Belmond-Klemme, 10. Hinton.