Jeff Linder

Sure, the Cedar Rapids Xavier boys’ shuttle hurdle relay team would have preferred a different path to victory. But, as Grayson Hartman said, “That’s the way track goes.”

Gracie Federspiel blazed to the Class 3A girls’ 800-meter championship at the state track and field meet Saturday at Drake Stadium. She was a major reason — but far from the only one — that the Spartans repeated as 3A team champions.

Sidney Swartzendruber’s last-ditch lean at the wire sent Cedar Rapids Kennedy to victory in the Class 4A girls’ sprint medley relay at the state track and field meet Saturday at Drake Stadium.

It’s the final day of the 2023 Iowa high school state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, with events in all four classes throughout the day. Follow The Gazette’s live blog for updates.

Mount Vernon came out of the second heat and won the Class 3A boys’ distance medley relay at the state track and field meet Friday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

Friday’s Class 3A girls’ state track and field roundup: A distance medley triumph, coupled by Sophia Stahle’s title in the 400-meter hurdles, sent Solon to the top of the 3A girls’ leaderboard heading to the final day.

Friday’s Class 4A state track and field roundup: Neither a strained quad nor a broken collarbone can stop Iowa City High’s Eva Reynolds, who took silver in the 400-meter hurdles.

Friday’s Class 4A boys’ state track and field roundup: Iowa City West earned a pair of titles in relays (and learned a lesson). Linn-Mar’s Nicholas Gorsich claimed the 400 hurdles title with a personal-best.

The 2023 Iowa high school state track and field meet continues Friday, starting with events in Class 1A and 4A and followed by 3A and 2A events in the afternoon session. Follow The Gazette’s live blog for updates throughout the day.

Thursday’s Class 3A girls’ state track and field roundup: Sydney Maue is a self-described, “self-taught” high jumper. Maue cleared 5 feet, 6 inches and earned Class 3A runner-up girls’ honors.

State track and field, 3A boys: His legs ‘jump-started’ after an earlier race, Mount Vernon’s Zach Fall races to 400-meter championship.

Iowa City High and Johnston ran the fastest boys’ 3,200-meter relay race in state history Thursday morning. City’s Ammon Smith, Ayman Noreldaim, Ford Washburn and Truman Thompson zipped to an all-time Iowa best in 7 minutes, 37.66 seconds.

Thursday’s Class 4A state track and field roundup: Linn-Mar’s T.J. Jackson and Iowa City High’s Matt Schaeckenbach both cleared 6-11 in the high jump, with Jackson the winner on misses.

The 2023 Iowa high school state track and field meet kicks off Thursday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Follow The Gazette’s live blog for updates and results throughout the day.

State track and field: Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Swartzendruber twins join forces on two title-hopeful relays, but first, there’s a 400 duel in which the stakes are higher than their old first-to-the-mailbox sprints.