Drake inches closer to a complete preps slate

DES MOINES -- The news came down, and Bronco clicked her heels. Or hooves.

The Drake Relays again expanded its high school itinerary this year, adding the girls' 800-meter relay and the boys' 800-meter run. That makes 16 girls' events and 16 boys' events.

"I'm really excited about it," said Rachel Broghammer, sophomore anchor for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls' 800 relay. "We always have a strong 4-by-2 at Jeff, and it's one of my favorites. It's a full-out sprint, and our team is really strong."

In 2000, just 10 girls' events were on the Relays menu. In 11 years, the list has increased by 60 percent.

High school competition opens at 3 p.m. Thursday. For both boys and girls, there will be three finals Thursday, seven Friday and six Saturday.

Both of the first-time events are Friday afternoon.

The only high school events still not contested at Drake are the boys' 200 and 400, and the girls' 200, 400 and distance medley relay.

"Drake has always been a big deal for the high schools. We're lucky to have the opportunity to run at, arguably, the best track meet in America," said Jefferson girls' coach Bill Calloway. "Track is on the rise in Iowa. Across the board, the times and distance have gotten better and better."

Iowa City West is the top seed in three girls' relays; the Women of Troy have run the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter events in 49.38, 1:44.00 and 4:02.66.

Jefferson is ranked No. 2 in the 800-meter relay at 1:45.37.

Calloway listed his relay order:

"We'll go with Maliya Rattliffe, Summer Carber, Taylor Jacobson and Bronco Broghammer," he said.

Bronco?

"I named her that," he said. "She runs like a runaway bronco."

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

"That's a good thing."

Broghammer said, "It started my freshman year when we were doing a pool workout. Coach said I was galloping like a horse, like a strong horse."

Last year, Matt Stocker anchored Cedar Rapids Prairie to the boys' 3,200-meter relay title. Friday, he'll get an opportunity for individual glory in the open 800.

"If I go out and compete with my best, I think I can come away with a medal," said Stocker, who will compete in three relays. "I'll have to bring my 'A' game."

Daniel Bonthius of Iowa City Regina has the top time in the boys' 800 at 1:56.89. Each of the 16 qualifiers have eclipsed 2 minutes.

"I'm just going to treat it like any other race," Stocker said. "I'm going to go out and compete."

Two area small-school field-event competitors lead the state. Lauren Smith of North Fayette has flung the discus 152 feet, 8 inches; Jordan Cress of Olin has cleared 6-10 1/4 in the high jump.

Cress signed a letter of intent Wednesday to compete at Iowa State.

Other high-school athletes to watch:

* Shelby Houlihan of Sioux City East is the favorite in three girls' distance events. She has run a state-best of 2:08.35 in the 800, 4:30.43 in the 1,500 and 10:00.71 in the 3,000.

* Alex Gochenour of Logan-Magnolia, the 2010 national youth champion in the hepthathlon, is favored to sweep the girls' hurdling events. She has run 13.97 in the 100-meter hurdles, 1:03.53 in the 400-meter hurdles.

* Justin Baker of Sioux City Heelan looks to sweep the boys' throws. He leads the field in the shot (58-11) and the discus (178-0). Sam Joens of Prairie is his chief threat in the discus.

* Kevin Lewis of Ottumwa figures to be among the contenders in the boys' 800, and is favored in the 1,600 and 3,200.