Jacobus to UNI; Evans to ISU

CEDAR RAPIDS -- In college, Derek Jacobus will shift from multi-sport to multi-event.

A four-sport standout at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Jacobus has committed to compete in track and field for the University of Northern Iowa.

"People kept asking me where I was going, and I kept saying UNI," Jacobus said Sunday night. "I guess I figured, let's make it official."

He did so with a phone call Saturday.

Jacobus plans to major in accounting and to perform in the decathlon.

"I've always like doing different things, playing different sports," he said. "This will kind of be the same thing."

As a junior, Jacobus was the Class 4A state long jump champion, leaping 22 feet, 10 1/4 inches. He was on a pair of runner-up relays -- the shuttle hurdle and the 4x200.

He just completed his football season, quarterbacking Kennedy to an 8-4 record and a spot in the 4A quarterfinals. He's also an infielder on Kennedy's perennially strong baseball team and a member of the basketball squad.

Meanwhile, KCRG-TV reported Saturday night that Linn-Mar distance ace Josh Evans has committed to Iowa State.

Evans was the Class 4A individual cross country champion earlier this month. He also won the Drake Relays 1,600-meter run and captured state-track gold in the 3,200-meter run and the 1,600-meter medley relay.

He chose Iowa State over Stanford and Oklahoma State.