State track: Boys capsules

DES MOINES -- Jeff Linder of The Gazette/KCRG previews the boys' portion of the state track meet Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium.

CLASS 4A

Individuals to watch -- The Outstanding Male Performer of the Drake Relays,

James Harrington of Cedar Falls is the top sprinter in the field. He is seeded first in the 100 and 400, second in the 200. Linn-Mar's

Josh Evans (1,600 and 3,200) and

Brandon Ophoff (110 hurdles and 400 hurdles) each carry the top district effort in two events.

Jacob Aune of Cedar Rapids Prairie is seeded second to Evans in the 3,200 and runs on a pair of top-seeded relay teams.

Previewing the team race -- The strength is in the East -- most notably, in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Iowa City West, Linn-Mar and

Iowa City High went 1-2-3 at the district at West last week, and it's certainly possible they will finish in the top three again this weekend. Linn-Mar has the pair of aces in Evans and Ophoff, while West counters with superior depth.

Cedar Falls will score big points in Harrington's races.

Bettendorf is the most likely team to break a MVC top-five monopoly.

How they'll finish -- 1. Iowa City West, 2. Linn-Mar, 3. Iowa City High, 4. Bettendorf, 5. Cedar Falls.

CLASS 3A

Individuals to watch -- Keep an eye on the distance races, which could prove pivotal in the team race.

Keith Byers of Spirit Lake Park is the top seed in the 800 and the 1,600, while teammate

Will Norris is in the top three of both. Byers and Norris are in the Indians' second-seeded 3,200-meter relay. Marion counters with

Lukas Mees, the favorite in the 3,200 and a contender in the 1,600. Decorah's

Kyle Kregel is the man to beat in the 400 and anchors the Vikings' top-seeded 1,600 relay and a medley that ranks second.

Previewing the team race -- Four teams are capable of the crown.

Spirit Lake Park (61) and

Marion (55) are projected to score the most points, based on district results. The distance races and the 800-meter relay will be pivotal head-to-head encounters.

Decorah is a contender behind Kregel and some strong field-event possibilities, and

Webster City could factor into the mix behind sprinter Keagan Parks.

How they'll finish -- 1. Spirit Lake Park, 2. Marion, 3. Decorah, 4. Webster City, 5. Pella.

CLASS 2A

Individuals to watch -- Dyersville Beckman senior

Derek Hammann is the top seed in the 200-meter dash and runs on three relays that are rated No. 1.

Will Teubel of Mount Vernon is the favorite in the 400 and will anchor the Mustangs' top-seeded 3,200 relay and is seeded second in the 800. Wapello's

Bennett Moser is the man to beat in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races.

Previewing the team race -- Relay prowess makes

Dyersville Beckman the favorite. The Blazers are ranked No. 1 in the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays, No. 2 in the 3,200 relay and No. 3 in the shuttle hurdle. That's 44 projected points right there, and anything extra ought to put the Blazers over the top.

Monticello will score well in the distance events and the throws, with

Mount Vernon getting big points in Teubel's events. The list of contenders probably starts and ends after those three.

How they'll finish -- 1. Dyersville Beckman, 2. Monticello, 3. Mount Vernon, 4. Baxter CMB, 5. Mediapolis.

CLASS 1A

Individuals to watch -- Though he didn't run flashy times at districts,

Conner Smock of Lisbon is a threat in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. He is the anchor on the Lions' medley relay.

Bryce Sines of Pekin is the top seed in the 100 and 200.

Brody Eischeid of Manson-Northwest Webster is the favorite in the 400, seeded second in the 200 and will anchor the Cougars' top-seeded 400 relay.

Cade Cleaveland of Oakland Riverside is tops in the 800, second in the 1,600 and is the anchor on the top-seeded 3,200 relay.

Previewing the team race -- Based on district results, two teams --

Council Bluffs St. Albert and

Manson-Northwest Webster -- are projected to score in the mid- to upper-40s. MNW will rely on its sprinters while St. Albert is strong in the distance events. Based on potential instead of district results, Smock will score big for

Lisbon, and if the Lions get some additional points elsewhere, they will contend.

Madrid is perennially strong and can't be discounted.

How they'll finish -- 1. Council Bluffs St. Albert, 2. Manson-NW Webster, 3. Lisbon, 4. Madrid, 5. Treynor.