Iowa high school boys’ track and field 2022: Top area teams, individuals

Top area boys’ track and field teams and individuals to watch for 2022:

Area teams to watch

Cedar Rapids Prairie — The potential is there for a big leap in the 4A standings (the Hawks were 14th last year). Geramie Hardaway is a holdover from last year’s shuttle hurdle relay championship quartet.

Clear Creek Amana — After finishing sixth in Class 3A last year, the Clippers could be poised to bring home a trophy in May. Of CCA’s 32 state points from 2021, 24 1/2 return, led by versatile seniors Harrison Rosenberg and Gavin Zillyette.

Iowa City High — Tied for sixth in the Class 4A race last year with 35 points, and returns 23 1/2 of them for 2022 (third most among 4A teams). Junior Ammon Smith leads a deep middle-distance crew. IATC 4A state indoor champion.

Linn-Mar — The Lions have a pair of individual title threats in the field events: McKade Jelinek is the defending champion in the 4A discus, and T.J. Jackson was third in the high jump. Those two represent 16 of the 19 returning state points.

Lisbon — After earning 1A state runner-up honors last year (behind Madrid), the Lions are preseason favorites to claim the small-school title in 2022. Iowa State recruit Kole Becker was a four-event champion as a junior.

Washington (Iowa) — The Demons were 12th in Class 3A with 23 points last year, and 21 3/4 of them return. Junior Elijah Morris is the reigning 400-meter champion, and Lance Sobaski is a middle-distance ace.

Top returning area individuals

Kole Becker, sr., Lisbon — Class 1A state champion in the long jump, 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and shuttle hurdle relay last year.

Jacob Brecht, sr., Benton Community — Placed third in the Class 3A 100-meter dash last year. Fourth in the 200, eighth in the 800 relay.

Karter Decker, jr., MFL MarMac — Finished third in the Class 1A 100- and 200-meter races last year.

Beau Flander, sr., English Valleys — Class 1A 100-meter champion last year. Seventh in the long jump.

Geramie Hardaway, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — A member of the Class 4A shuttle hurdle relay champion squad last year. Fourth in the 110 hurdles.

T.J. Jackson, jr., Linn-Mar — Placed third in the Class 4A high jump last year.

McKade Jelinek, sr., Linn-Mar — Captured the Class 4A discus championship last year.

Carson Lienau, sr., Jesup — Swept the shot put and discus titles in Class 2A last year.

Elijah Morris, jr., Washington (Iowa) — Won the Class 3A 400-meter dash title last year. Fourth in the sprint medley relay.

Alex Mota, jr., Marion — The Class 3A runner-up in the 100-meter dash last year. Fourth in the 400 relay, sixth in the 200.

Harrison Rosenberg, sr., Clear Creek Amana — Placed third in the Class 3A 110-meter hurdles and sprint medley relay last year.

Traijan Sain, jr., Cedar Rapids Washington — Finished fourth in the Class 4A 400-meter dash last year, eighth in the sprint medley relay.

Ammon Smith, jr., Iowa City High — Third in the Class 4A 800-meter run last year. Fourth in the 3,200-meter relay and distance medley relay.

Beau York, sr., HLV — Class 1A runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, third in the 110-meter hurdles last year.

Gavin Zillyette, sr., Clear Creek Amana — Class 3A runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles last year. Third in the 3,200 relay, sixth in two other relays.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com