State track: Breaking down the boys' field

Read full articleA class by class analysis of the boys' state track meet:

CLASS 4APatrick Lewis is the key man in Cedar Rapids Xavier's sprint corps. (Photo by Jim Slosiarek)

Individuals to watch - Omet Kak of Des Moines North is a brilliant distance runner; he's favored to sweep the 1,600 and 3,200, and will run on the Polar Bears' medley relay.

Patrick Lewis of Cedar Rapids Xavier won the Drake Relays 100, is the man to beat in the 200 and anchors the Saints' 4×100. Iowa City West's

Alonzo Markham is seeded No. 2 in the 100 and 400 and anchors the top-seeded 4×100. Clinton's

Ethan Holmes is the favorite in both hurdles events.

Teams to watch - Who gets an unexpected boost? Who avoids disaster? That team will stand on top Saturday afternoon. There's a cluster of eight teams projected to score 30 or better, led by

Cedar Rapids Washington and

Iowa City West. If Washington's sprint relays get the baton home and its shuttle hurdle comes through, the Warriors have the edge.

Waukee has strong relays, and

Cedar Rapids Kennedy could reach the top five.

How they'll finish - 1. Cedar Rapids Washington, 2. Iowa City West, 3. Waukee, 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 5. Indianola.

 

CLASS 3AJordan Cotton

Individuals to watch - Jordan Cotton anchors Mount Pleasant's sprinting corps. The University of Iowa football recruit is seeded No. 1 in the 100, and the Panthers' 4×100 also is favored.

Brett Egan of Waukon is the favorite in the 1,600, seeded third in the 3,200 and will anchor the Indians' powerful medley relay.

Drew Clark of Marion is the shot put favorite - he's the Drake Relays champion - and will contend in the discus. Atlantic's

Jordan Mullen is the best high hurdler in the state, regardless of class.

Teams to watch - After taking the Marion district by storm,

DeWitt Central is the team to beat. The Sabers have 20 state entrants and are seeded to score 61 points, nearly 20 more than anyone else.

Sioux City Heelan and

Mount Pleasant are the prime challengers.

Marion could sneak into the top five behind Clark and a strong shuttle hurdle relay.

How they'll finish – 1. DeWitt Central, 2. Sioux City Heelan, 3. Mount Pleasant, 4. Atlantic, 5. Marion.

 

CLASS 2A

Individuals to watch - Eddyville-Blakesburg's

Jacob Batterson leads the class in the 110 hurdles and is rated No. 2 in the 200. He's part of the Rockets' 400-meter relay.

Brian Sandvig of Fort Dodge St. Edmond is the leader in the 200 and 400. Northeast's

Ryan Krogmann is the leader in the 800 and anchors the second-seeded 1,600-meter medley relay.

Channing Puls of Hudson is a contender in the long jump and 110 hurdles and will anchor the Pirates' shuttle hurdle relay.

Teams to watch - Expect a shootout that could include as many as seven teams. A clear-cut favorite did not emerge from district competition. North Iowa Cedar League rivals

Hudson and

Dike-New Hartford could hold the inside track.

Dyersville Beckman is seeded to score in nine events, and if the Blazers surpass their premeet seeds, they could take the crown. Other title hopefuls are

Fort Dodge St. Edmond, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Unity Christian and

Western Christian.

How they'll finish - 1. Hudson, 2. Dike-New Hartford, 3. Dyersville Beckman, 4. Western Christian, 5. Eddyville-Blakesburg. 

CLASS 1AKollin Burns

Individuals to watch – Griswold's

Jared Hoffman enters as the top seed in the 800 and the 1,600, and will anchor the second-seeded 3,200 meter relay. Alburnett freshman

Kollin Burns is rated No. 2 in the 400 meters and is a member of three relays - the 4×100, 4×400 and shuttle hurdle - that are seeded second.

Teams to watch - Griswold is extremely strong in the distance events and enters as the favorite. The Tigers are seeded to score in the low 60s.

Alburnett and

West Lyon are the chief challengers.

How they'll finish – 1. Griswold, 2. Alburnett, 3. West Lyon, 4. Madrid, 5. Belmond-Klemme.

Source:

Jeff Linder - Blog