Indians chase Wamac repeat

 Their team T-shirts accurately say that the Marion High School boys track team does it all."We run. We throw. We jump. We hurdle."And, most likely, they'll repeat.The season has reached its conference-championship week, with the majority of the area leagues scheduling their meets Thursday.Whether they'll run Thursday ... that's another story. Forecasts for inclement weather have triggered a couple of changes.The Wamac and Northeast Iowa conferences have moved their meets back to Monday. The Wamac meet will now be divisionalized -- the East Division at Manchester, the West at Marion. Mississippi Valley Conference divisional meets are at four different locations -- Kingston Stadium, Iowa City West, Dubuque and Cedar Falls. Those are still on, for now, for Thursday.So are the Tri-Rivers meet at Edgewood and the final Big East event at Goose Lake.Durant will host the Cedar Valley Conference meet on Friday.The Indians won the 2012 Wamac title by more than 20 points despite winning only three events. They did so with across-the-board scoring balance, and they should do so again this year on their home track."I think we have a chance to score in just about every event," said Marion Coach Scott Immerfall. "I feel pretty good about our chances. We haven't really run a meet yet in which everybody was healthy, and I think we're getting there."Solon's girls, Wamac winners by 66 points last year, are the class of the East Division.Some contenders are vigorously chasing a championship. Some aren't.The girls from Cedar Rapids Jefferson are in the midst of their best season in a long time. But a divisional championship is not Priority No. 1 for Bill Calloway."We're not going to spread out and try to get as many points as we can," Calloway said. "We're more focused on preparing for regionals and state."We're going to look at things, and see which way we want to go for regionals (May 9)."The J-Hawks certainly have talent. According to Calloway, they also have attitude."The thing I like most about this group," he said, "is that they're never afraid to line up against anyone." 

PREP TRACK: CONFERENCE-MEET WEEK

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION BOYS

When & where -- Thursday at Dubuque

What to watch for -- Defending Class 4A state champion Iowa City West is the favorite. The Trojans won the 3,200-meter relay last week at the Drake Relays. Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City High appear to be the Trojans' primary challengers. Kennedy boasts a group of excellent jumpers and hurdlers. Dubuque Hempstead's Joseph Weiner is the divisional leader in both throws.

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION GIRLS

When & where -- Thursday at Iowa City West

What to watch for -- This is certainly the stronger of the two divisionals for the girls, and it should shape up as a chase between the traditional powers from Iowa City and up-and-coming Cedar Rapids Jefferson. City's Sarah Plock was the 400-meter hurdles champion at Drake, while West counters with sprinter/long jumper McKennan Cronbaugh. Jefferson has the strongest batch of relays; the J-Hawks are top-seeded in four of the seven.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION BOYS

When & where -- Thursday at Kingston Stadium

What to watch for -- Linn-Mar has a tough act to follow; the Lions were superb at the Drake Relays. Josh Evans was named the Most Outstanding Performer after setting an all-time Iowa best in the 1,600-meter run and anchoring the winning medley relay. Behind Perrion Scott, the Lions are also strong in the hurdles and the sprints. They lead the division in five of six relays. In the other four-man race, Cedar Rapids Prairie won the 1,600-meter relay at Drake.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION GIRLS

When & where -- Thursday at Cedar Falls

What to watch for -- This could come down to Cedar Falls' balance and depth against Linn-Mar's star power. Freshman Stephanie Jenks placed in four events at the Drake Relays, winning titles in the 1,500 and 3,000. But she's certainly not the entire show; Linn-Mar has the top time in the division in four events, and Amber Decker is another dandy freshman. Cedar Falls has its own distance stars in Allison Gregg and Brianna King.

WAMAC EAST DIVISION (BOYS & GIRLS)

When & where -- Monday at Manchester

What to watch for -- Solon's girls won the overall Wamac title in 2012, and are heavily favored to claim the East Division crown. Lauren Benzing is capable of sweeping the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 girls' races, if that's where she is assigned. Teammate Kara Misel figures to score big in both throwing events. The boys race figures to be a scramble between DeWitt Central, Dyersville Beckman and Solon. Beckman has a pair of potentially dominant runners in sprinter Grant Hammann and middle-distance man Mitch Steger. Solon's Connor Ham was the Drake runner-up in the 110 hurdles.

WAMAC WEST DIVISION (BOYS & GIRLS)

When & where -- Monday at Marion

What to watch for -- Marion's claimed the overall conference crown last year and should reign in this divisional meet. The Indians are strong across the board, and placed fourth in the 1,600-meter relay at Drake. Josh Yeager of Center Point-Urbana is a distance ace. Williamsburg, Benton Community and Clear Creek Amana are the prime contenders in the girls race. Williamsburg and Benton lead the way in three relays apiece. 

TRI-RIVERS CONFERENCE (BOYS & GIRLS)

When & where -- Thursday at Edgewood

What to watch for -- It's the last meet for the Tri-Rivers as we currently know it. The host school (Edgewood-Colesburg) is leaving after the school year, and so are the favorites of both team races -- Monticello (boys) and Cascade (girls). Monticello's distance depth is as good as anybody in any class; the Panthers nearly ran off with the Drake Relays 3,200-meter relay crown. Add a premier high jumper (Cody Jamison) and thrower (Devonte Merrill), and Monticello looks untouchable. Cascade's girls are defending 2A state champions, but have been slowed somewhat by injuries. Abbey Meyer is healthy, though, and leads the league in the 200 and is the cornerstone of the Cougars' relays. North Linn will earn its share of points in the girls' competition behind middle-distance star Nicole Miller.

CEDAR VALLEY CONFERENCE (BOYS & GIRLS)

When & where -- Friday at Durant

What to watch for -- Iowa City Regina's Alex Balke has both speed and strength; he is the top CVC competitor this season in the 200, and both throwing events. He helps make the Regals a threat in what should be a multi-team boys' title chase. The girls' race appears much more clear; West Branch is the favorite. The Bears are top-seeded in four relays, and Lindsey Bruns is the class of the league in the distance events.

ELSEWHERE IN THE AREA ...* Big East Conference, Thursday at Goose Lake* Northeast Iowa Conference, Monday at Decorah* Upper Iowa Conference, Monday at West Union