J-Hawk relays set 3 meet records

CEDAR RAPIDS -- You hear "Blue Oval" in track and field circles, you automatically think "Drake Relays."   You might want to think something else.   Think Jasmine.   Sophomore Jasmine Blue won four events, keying Cedar Rapids Jefferson to three meet relay records at the 14-team J-Hawk Relays on a cool but quick Saturday at Kingston Stadium.   "As a freshman, I was scared all the time," she said. "Now I have a better outlook. I know what people expect of me, and what I expect of myself."   She smiled.   "I still get very nervous, though."   Six meet records fell Saturday. Three were claimed by the Big Blue Speed Crew.   Blue as in Jefferson. Blue as in Jasmine.   She joined Lucy Schneekloth and Abilene Ranschau in all three record setters; Jefferson ran 1:44.56 in the 800-meter relay, 1:50.44 in the sprint medley and 49.53 seconds in the 400 relay.   Madi Ranschau was in the sprint medley (and won the 100-meter hurdles), Morgan Meese in the other two relays.   "We saw some of the records and said, 'Hey we can knock some of these off,'" said Blue, who also won the 100-meter dash in 13.10 seconds.   Jefferson set an all-time Iowa best in the 800 relay at last year's state meet. So far, the J-Hawks are ahead of last year's pace.   "Based on today, yeah, we're faster," Schneekloth said. "But you can't predict the future. Nothing is guaranteed."   The weather has been crummy through the early stages of the outdoor season. But it was better Saturday, and the J-Hawks sprinters performed.   "We have some big evergreens in our yard, and they weren't moving this morning," Schneekloth said. "I looked out and told my mom, 'It's a beautiful day.'"   Iowa City West and Dubuque Wahlert shared the team title with 110 points apiece. Linn-Mar was third with 77 points, Jefferson was fourth with 68.   West got wins from Ashlynn Yokom in the 1,500 and its sprint medley relay.   "Today is what's I'd expect from a first outdoor meet. Some things we did well, and some things we didn't," said West Coach Mike Parker, who considers this year's freshman class the best he has coached.   "They've got a lot of learn, and we've got a lot of coaching to do," he said. "I'm looking forward to learning what these kids can do."   Linn-Mar distance ace Stephanie Jenks made just one appearance Saturday, but she made it a good one.   Jenks set a meet record in the 800 in 2:14.59, an effort that puts her atop the state's season list in three events.   The sophomore ran to the front immediately and set the pace in a blistering race. Runner-up Amber Decker of Linn-Mar (2:16.35) and Waverly-Shell Rock's Abby Caldwell (2:17.17) also eclipsed the old meet record.Jenks leads the state in the 800, the 1,500 (4:36.23) and the 3,000 (9:48.44).   Other meet marks were set by Caldwell in the 3,000 (10:12.70) and Wahlert's distance medley relay (4:21.80).   Cedar Rapids Prairie sophomore Kenzie Soeken may be the next in line of outstanding Prairie high jumpers. She cleared 5 feet, 2 inches."We have an excellent coach (in Chris Perkins)," Soeken said. "She works with us in the offseason and we have a really good lifting program."Soeken cleared 4-10 and 5 feet on her first attempt, then made 5-2 on her second.   "When we get higher, I kind of let the (height) get to me," she said. "If you told me (it was 5 feet and it was really 5-4), I'd probably make it."   Other area winners were Katie Beer (long jump) and Amarri Waller (200) of Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Rachel Perry (400) of Linn-Mar and Shelby Gunnells (shot put) of Solon.   

J-HAWK RELAYS  

At Kingston Stadium  

Teams -- 1. (tie) Dubuque Wahlert and Iowa City West 110, 3. Linn-Mar 77, 4. C.R. Jefferson 68, 5. (tie) Cedar Falls and Solon 52, 7. C.R. Kennedy 45, 8. C.R. Prairie 37, 9. Waverly-Shell Rock 20, 10. C.R. Xavier 8, 11. C.R. Washington 6, 12. Marshalltown 4, 13. (tie) Waterloo East and Waterloo West 0.  

Shot put -- 1. Shelby Gunnells (Sol), 41-4; 2. Allison Griffin (CF), 38-2 1/2; 3. Natalie Rumer (CRP), 37-7;

Discus -- 1. Maddie Nilles (DW), 134-4; 2. Abby Brayton (ICW), 110-5; 3. Lannie Nietert (LM), 104-9;

High jump -- 1. Kenzie Soeken (CRP), 5-2; 2. Mackenzie May (DW), 4-10; 3. Josie Durr (Sol), 4-10;

Long jump -- 1. Katie Beer (CRK), 16-4 1/4; 2. Taleah Smith (ICW), 16-1 3/4; 3. Jordan Smith (Sol), 15-11.  

3,000 -- 1. Abby Caldwell (WSR), 10:12.70*; 2. Ashlynn Yokom (ICW), 10:21.31; 3. Emmie Skopec (ICW), 11:00.13;

3,200 relay -- 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 10:02.16; 2. Cedar Falls, 10:08.59; 3. Linn-Mar, 10:23.94;

Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. Iowa City West, 1:09.21; 2. C.R. Jefferson, 1:09.39; 3. Cedar Falls, 1:10.06;

100 -- 1. Jasmine Blue (CRJ), 13.10; 2. Laura Sherman (DW), 13.31; 3. Alicia Harrington (CF), 13.37;

Distance medley relay -- 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:21.80*; 2. Solon, 4:27.38; 3. Linn-Mar, 4:27.81;

400 -- 1. Rachel Perry (LM), 1:00.32; 2. Tia Saunders (ICW), 1:00.66; 3. Jordan Smith (Sol), 1:01.81;

800 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 1:44.56*; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:47.92; 3. Cedar Falls, 1:48.99;

100 hurdles -- 1. Madison Ranschau (CRJ), 15.56; 2. Elizabeth Welu (DW), 16.01; 3. Grace Young (ICW), 16.47;

800 -- 1. Stephanie Jenks (LM), 2:14.59*; 2. Amber Decker (LM), 2:16.35; 3. Abby Caldwell (WSR), 2:17.17;

200 -- 1. Amarri Waller (CRK), 27.01; 2. Tia Saunders (ICW), 27.22; 3. Halley Morgan (LM), 27.26;

400 hurdles -- 1. Maddie Heiar (DW), 1:09.47; 2. Valerie Welch (ICW), 1:09.50; 3. Emma Moss (Sol), 1:11.38;

Sprint medley relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 1:50.44*; 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:51.78; 3. Linn-Mar, 1:55.69;

1,500 -- 1. Ashlynn Yokom (ICW), 4:57.44; 2. Emmie Skopec (ICW), 5:07.14; 3. Allison Culver (CRK), 5:10.69;

400 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 49.53*; 2. Iowa City West, 51.26; 3. C.R. Prairie, 52.20;

1,600 relay -- 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:05.58; 2. Linn-Mar, 4:06.64; 3. Iowa City West, 4:09.71.*meet record