2016 girls' track & field teams to watch

Area girls' track teams to watch this spring:

CASCADE

* Coach — Tim Frake

* Last year at state — 7th place in Class 2A, 30 points (30 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Macie Weber, sr. (2nd, 800; 2nd, 3,200 relay; 3rd, distance medley relay; 7th, 1,600 relay); Rachel McDermott, jr., 2nd, 3,200 relay; 3rd, distance medley relay; 7th, 1,600 relay); Rebecca McDermott, jr. (2nd, 3,200 relay; 7th, 1,600 relay); Kylie Kelchen, sr. (2nd, 3,200 relay); Brittany Koppes, soph. (3rd, long jump); Lynsey Dolphin, sr. (3rd, distance medley relay; 7th, 4x400; Anne Ryan, soph. (3rd, distance medley relay)

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

* Coach — Bill Calloway

* Last year at state — 5th place in Class 4A, 45 points (26.5 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Abilene Ranschau, sr. (1st, 100 hurdles; 1st, 400 relay; 1st, 800 relay; 2nd, sprint medley); Jasmine Blue, sr. (1st, 400 relay; 1st, 800 relay, 2nd, sprint medley); MiAsia Bergmann, soph. (7th, distance medley relay); Autumn Anderson, jr. (7th, distance medley relay; 8th, 1,600 relay); Meredith Koenigsfeld, sr. (7th, distance medley relay; 8th, 1,600 relay); McKayla Belew, jr., 8th, 1,600 relay); Sam Kitterman, sr. (8th, 1,600 relay)

DECORAH

* Coach — Dana Hogan

* Last year at state — Class 3A runner-up, 67 points (33 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Taylor Schuring, sr. (1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 1,600 relay; 2nd, sprint medley relay; 6th, 3,200 relay); Kayla Quandahl, jr. (1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 1,600 relay; 5th, 800 relay); Kalle Solberg, sr. (2nd, 1,600 relay; 2nd, sprint medley relay; 5th, 800 relay; 6th, 3,200 relay); Brynne Valkosky, soph. (2nd, sprint medley relay; 5th, 800 relay; 8th, 100); Katie Perez, sr. (2nd, 1,600 relay; 6th, 3,200 relay); Olivia Sandvig, sr. (3rd, 100 hurdles; 8th, long jump); Kaitlyn Nimrod, soph. (6th, 3,200 relay)

IOWA CITY WEST

* Coach — Mike Parker

* Last year at state — 6th place in Class 4A, 34 points (33 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Valerie Welch, jr. (2nd, 100 hurdles; 2nd, distance medley relay; 5th, shuttle hurdle relay; 6th, 400 hurdles); Tia Saunders, sr. (2nd, distance medley relay; 5th, 3,200 relay; 6th, 800); Bailey Nock, soph. (2nd, distance medley relay; 5th, 3,200 relay; 8th, 800); Micaela Gravelin, jr. (2nd, distance medley relay); Olivia Moore, jr. (5th, 3,200 relay); Jessie Skopec, jr. (5th, 3,200 relay); Grace Young, sr. (5th, shuttle hurdle relay); Kia Noibi, soph. (5th, shuttle hurdle relay); Leah Dusterhoft, jr. (6th, discus)

LINN-MAR

* Coach — Nathan Hopp

* Last year at state — Class 4A state runner-up, 90 points (77.5 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Payton Wensel, soph. (1st, 400; 1st, 3,200 relay; 1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 1,600 relay); Stephanie Jenks, sr. (1st, 800; 1st, 1,500; 1st, 3,000; 5th, 400 hurdles); Amber Decker, sr. (1st, 3,200 relay; 1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 1,600 relay; 5th, 800); Hanna Saville, jr. (1st, 3,200 relay; 2nd, 1,600 relay); Ariana Rolle, soph. (1st, distance medley relay; 3rd, long jump); Brooke Lorenz, sr. (1st, distance medley relay)

NORTH LINN

* Coach — Bob Mudd

* Last year at state — Class 1A runner-up, 67 points (23.5 return for 2016)

* Returning state placewinners — Sydney Mertens, soph. (1st, 1,600 relay; 1st, 3,200 relay; 1st, distance medley relay); Cassie Rawson, sr. (1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 400 relay; 5th, 800 relay); Kayla Newbauer, sr. (1st, distance medley relay; 2nd, 400 relay; 5th, 800 relay); Abby Klendworth, sr. (2nd, 400 relay; 5th, 800 relay); Abbey Ingwersen, sr. (2nd, 400 relay)

More: Area individuals to watch

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com