Jeff Linder

State track and field, Class 4A girls: Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg came through on her final attempt, leaping a clutch 18 feet, 2 1/4 inches to win the long jump Friday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

State track and field, Class 3A boys: Quentin Nauman continued a scintillating state meet Friday morning at Drake Stadium; his 1:51.5 anchor brought Western Dubuque from behind in the distance medley relay.

State track and field, Class 3A girls: Third-place finishes by Eastin Whisner (400 hurdles) and Libby Dix (shot put) have Mount Vernon on top heading to the final day.

State track and field, 4A girls/boys: In her first season as a high jumper, Linn-Mar’s Maia Denge-Hagen strikes gold.

State track and field, 3A girls: Led by a runner-up finish by Sydney Maue in the high jump, Mount Vernon leads the 3A girls’ team race after Day 1.

Solon junior Ben Kampman was part of an area boys’ championship bonanza Thursday at the state track and field meet, winning the 3A boys’ discus title with an effort of 186 feet, 3 inches.

There was no expensive search firm. No prolonged speculation on who the next University of Iowa women’s basketball coach would be. “How amazing is it when the easy choice is the right choice?” Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz said Wednesday, introducing Jan Jensen.

State track and field: After a scoreless state meet in 2023, the Tipton girls look like Class 2A contenders. Noelle Steines’ arrival has been huge, and so has the improvement of veterans like Addie Nerem and Alivia Edens.

The Iowa high school state track and field meet begins at 9 a.m. Thursday. Here are the top individuals and teams in the boys’ field, along with The Gazette’s championship picks.

The Iowa high school state track and field meet begins at 9 a.m. Thursday. Here are the top individuals and teams in the girls’ field, along with The Gazette’s championship picks.

The Hawk Off the Press podcast examines the legacy Lisa Bluder leaves a day after her surprise announcement that she is retiring as Iowa women’s basketball coach. Plus, what Jan Jensen’s promotion to head coach means for the program moving forward.

Bruce Dall, who has coached teams to five state championships, including the last four Class 2A titles at Dike-New Hartford, was named girls’ basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie on Tuesday.

The Las Vegas Aces open regular-season play Tuesday — 9 p.m. (CT), ESPN — at home against the Phoenix Mercury, and Kate Martin will be a part of it. She understands her role, and she embraces it.

Jan Jensen has been the Iowa women’s basketball program’s top assistant, recruiting coordinator and post developer for 24 years. Monday, mere minutes after Lisa Bluder’s retirement was announced, Jensen was announced as the successor.

In a shocking turn of events Monday afternoon, Lisa Bluder announced her retirement as University of Iowa women’s basketball coach. Longtime lieutenant Jan Jensen has been named head coach, effective immediately.