J-Hawks off and running again

CEDAR FALLS -- The observation was suggested that Lucy Schneekloth was quicker, and Jasmine Blue was faster.

They hesitated, pondered, then nodded.

"That would probably be accurate," Schneekloth said.

So would this: Cedar Rapids Jefferson has the corner on speed in the Mississippi Valley Conference.The J-Hawks won six events -- all in the sprints and the hurdles -- in an impressive showing at the MVC indoor girls' track meet Tuesday night at the UNI-Dome.

Team scores were not tabulated, but it is clear that the J-Hawks are among the league's best, thanks to their short-distance crew.

Schneekloth and Blue went 1-2 in the 60-meter dash, Madi Ranschau claimed gold in the 60-meter hurdles, and the J-Hawks won four relays -- the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter varieties and the shuttle hurdle.

"We're quick. We're really tough," said Ranschau, who motored through her race in 8.82 seconds, more than 6-tenths ahead of the field.That leads to serious optimism.

"I really would like to become a state champion," Ranschau said. "And I'd like our shuttle to place high. I'm really excited about this team."

Jefferson was fifth in the Class 4A team race last year, and has the weapons to pull a similar stunt.

Schneekloth and Blue were members of the 800-meter relay that set an all-time Iowa best last year. Tuesday, they were the best in the league in the 60, in 7.68 and 7.73 seconds, respectively.

The J-Hawks clicked to times of 51.09 in the 400 relay, 1:47.32 in the 800 relay, 4:10.03 in the 1,600 relay and 38.07 in the shuttle.

Dubuque Wahlert was the only other team to win multiple events, with three.

Iowa City West's Ashlynn Yokom and Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Alyssa Averhoff starred in the distance races.Yokom, a senior bound for the University of Missouri, won the 1,500 in 4:53.26, an effort that was met with lukewarm reception.

"It definitely needs improvement," she said. "It's the start of the season, so it's probably where I'm supposed to be, but I want to be faster all the time."

A recruit of Nebraska-Omaha, Averhoff ran 11:24.56 to win the 3,000 convincingly despite miscounting her 15 laps."The (board) still said '1,' so I thought I had a lap left," she said. "I didn't think I was done running."

It felt like 15 laps, though.

"You go around and around, and you can definitely feel it in your legs." she said.Other area champions were Amara Taylor of Cedar Rapids Washington in the 400 (1:02.90), Paige Pritts of Cedar Rapids Prairie in the long jump (15-8 1/2) and Mary Arch of Iowa City High in the 800 (2:30.27). 

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE GIRLS' INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

At Cedar Falls (UNI-Dome)

No Team Scores

Shot put -- 1. Hope Koerperich (DH), 37-5; 2. Maddie Niles (DW), 35-10; 3. Rachel Griffin (CRP), 35-1; High jump -- 1. Patricia Sahr (WE), 4-10; 2. Grace Gudenkauf (DS), 4-10; 3. (tie) Nicole Miller (CRP), Hannah Grimm (CRP) and Heather Splinter (DH), 4-8; Long jump -- 1. Paige Pritts (CRP), 15-8 1/2; 2. Jessica Bradley (DS), 15-8; 3. Katie Beer (CRK), 15-4.3,000 -- 1. Alyssa Averhoff (CRK), 11:24.56; 2. Cassidy Christopher (CF), 11:46.30; Elly Tebon (DS), 12:02.52; 3,200 relay -- 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 9:48.23; 2. Iowa City West, 10:03.43; 3. Cedar Falls, 10:32.40; Shuttle hurdle relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 38.07; 2. Iowa City West, 39.21; 3. C.R. Prairie, 41.04; Distance medley relay -- 1. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:31.12; 2. Iowa City High, 4:31.96; 3. C.R. Kennedy, 4:46.17; 60 -- 1. Lucy Schneekloth (CRJ), 7.68; 2. Jasmine Blue (CRJ), 7.73; 3. Amarri Waller (CRK), 7.74; 400 -- 1. Amara Taylor (CRW), 1:02.90; 2. Rachel Collins (ICW), 1:05.10; 3. Lizzy Klemme (ICW), 1:06.30; 800 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 1:47.32; 2. Iowa City West, 1:50.08; 3. Cedar Falls, 1:50.60; 60 hurdles -- 1. Madi Ranschau (CRJ), 8.82; 2. Elizabeth Welu (DW), 9.43; 3. Haley Alexander (CF), 9.65; 800 -- 1. Mary Arch (ICH), 2:30.27; 2. Alyssa Averhoff (CRK), 2:30.60; 3. Hanna Saville (LM), 2:30.96; 200 -- 1. Laura Sherman (DW), 26.73; 2. Sarah Plock (ICH), 27.20; 3. Amara Taylor (CRW), 27.68; Sprint medley relay -- 1. Cedar Falls, 1:57.88; 2. Dubuque Hempstead, 1:58.17; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 1:59.71; 1,500 -- 1. Ashlynn Yokom (ICW), 4:53.26; 2. Ellen Carman (ICH), 5:04.65; 3. Emmie Skopec (ICW), 5:11.35; 400 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 51.09; 2. Cedar Falls, 52.05; 3. Linn-Mar, 53.00; 1,600 relay -- 1. C.R. Jefferson, 4:10.03; 2. Iowa City West, 4:10.67; 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 4:12.66.