Iowa state track 4A girls’ results: Prairie distance medley watches, waits, wins

DES MOINES — The waiting — and the watching — was the hardest part.

“A little nerve-racking,” Gabby Cortez said.

But well worth it.

Cedar Rapids Prairie dominated its heat of the Class 4A distance medley relay Friday afternoon at Drake Stadium. But the Hawks couldn’t celebrate immediately.

They had to watch the final heat, generally the fast heat. But not this time.

Prairie’s effort of 4 minutes, 9.10 seconds held up, and the Hawks’ unit of Sarah Jordan, Catie Reittinger, Cortez and Lily Johannes were champions.

“I just imagined running against somebody fast,” Johannes said. “I run against (teammate) Alexis Moses all the time in practice.”

Even though the Hawks were seeded ninth — and thus out of the fast heat — there was solid reason for belief. Neither Cortez nor Johannes were part of the distance medley at the regional meet last week.

“We knew coming in that we were capable of putting up a faster time than we did (at the state-qualifier),” Cortez said.

When Dubuque Hempstead posted a time of 4:11.01 in the fast heat, the Hawks celebrated.

“It was hard watching,” Jordan said.

Cortez and Johannes are juniors, Jordan a sophomore, Reittinger a freshman.

“We’re just getting started,” Reittinger said.

Waukee is on track for its fifth consecutive 4A girls’ state championship. The Warriors have scored 49 points. Pleasant Valley is second with 31 points. Prairie stands in fifth with 23.

The final nine events are Saturday.

Iowa City High’s Lillian Reynolds ran third in the 400-meter hurdles, in 1:04.69.

STATE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Des Moines

CLASS 4A GIRLS

Teams (through 10 events) — 1. Waukee 49, 2. Pleasant Valley 39, 3. Ames 26, 4. Ankeny 24, 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie 23, 6. Dubuque Hempstead 19, 7. (tie) Sioux City East and Southeast Polk 18, 9. (tie) Ankeny Centennial, Cedar Falls, Iowa City Liberty and North Scott 15.

Shot put — 1. Riley Vice (Pleasant Valley), 40-6 3/4; 2. Caitlyn Cox (West Des Moines Valley), 39-7 1/2; 3. Macie Mays (Indianola), 39-3 3/4.

Long jump — 1. Shelby Romig (Ankeny), 18-0 3/4; 2. Harmony Creasy (Pleasant Valley), 17-3 1/4; 3. Lineya Wells (Sioux City East), 17-2 1/4.

Distance medley relay — 1. Cedar Rapids Prairie (Jordan, Reittinger, Cortez, Johannes), 4:09.10; 2. Dubuque, Hempstead, 4:11.01; 3. Southeast Polk, 4:11.05; 4. Iowa City Liberty, 4:11.89.

800 relay — 1. Waukee (Karunatilaka, Schlicher, Perry, Harris), 1:41.24; 2. Ames, 1:42.30; 3. Pleasant Valley, 1:42.42.

400 hurdles — 1. Emily Wood (Pleasant Valley), 1:03.30; 2. Mackenzie Carney (Waukee), 1:04.46; 3. Lillian Reynolds (Iowa City High), 1:04.69.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com