Another state hurdles title, and more, is on Quinton Alexander’s radar

WILLIAMSBURG — The first thing you notice, of course, is the hair.

Natural black on the right side. Artificial white on the left.

“I did it for wrestling,” Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Quinton Alexander said. “I only bleached one side because it took 3 1/2 hours.”

Prairie’s 190-pounder, Alexander suffered a late-season injury — “I had some nerve damage in my neck, and couldn’t feel my left arm,” he said — and didn’t qualify for state wrestling.

He’s healed now, and as swift and speedy as ever in the 110-meter high hurdles.

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The reigning Class 4A state champion, Alexander has his sights on a title repeat ... and more.

“Thirteen-point-six-eight,” he said, accurately reciting the state’s all-time best, set by Iowa Falls-Alden’s Jaden Damiano last year. “I want to get as fast as I can, maybe 13.5.”

Alexander ran 13.95 in his title race last year, and already has gone 13.91 this spring, March 27 at Washington, Iowa.

Fall short of your personal best, and that can lead to mild disappointment. That’s where Alexander was Tuesday, after motoring through the event in 14.19 seconds at the Williamsburg Invitational meet.

“It wasn’t the time I was hoping for,” he said. “A win is a win, but I always push myself to be better, 1 percent better every day.”

Alexander plans to continue his track career at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

“Hopefully, I get even better there, as good as I can be.”

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The SICL is sharp

In terms of small-school star power, it’s tough to top the South Iowa Cedar League, both girls and boys.

Ema Roberts of HLV/Tri-County (high jump) and Lydia Kriegel of Iowa Valley (discus) were Class 1A state champions as juniors.

Roberts is No. 1 in the state (all classes) this season, clearing 5 feet, 7 inches April 3 at LaPorte City. Kriegel in third in 1A in the discus (126-7 1/2), fourth in the shot put (38-5 1/2).

Among other SICL stars:

* English Valleys’ Gage Heyne is the 1A boys’ leader in the 1,600 meters (4:25.64) and No. 2 in the 800 and 3,200. He anchors the Bears’ 1A second-ranked distance medley relay.

* Also from English Valleys, Ava Gehrking is second in the 1A girls’ 100 and fourth in the 200. The Bears are No. 5 in the 3,200-meter relay.

* Belle Plaine’s boys are ranked in the 1A top five in five events. Sam DeMeulenaere is No. 3 in the 400-meter hurdles, Lane Vokoun No. 5 in the 110-meter hurdles. That duo is on the fourth-ranked shuttle hurdle relay, and the Plainsmen are fourth in the 4x400 and fifth in the distance medley.

* Iowa Valley owns four top-five 1A boys’ relays, including the No. 1-ranked 4x200 at 1:31.52. The Tigers are third in the 4x400, fourth in the 4x100 and fifth in the sprint medley.

* Roberts has company at HLV-TC. Aaliyah Cooper is No. 5 in the 1A girls’ 400 hurdles, and the Warriors are No. 3 in the 4x400 and distance medley.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com