State track: Girls form chart

DES MOINES - The state track meet is Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the girls' competition (projections are based on regional results).

(SCHEDULE)

(QUALIFIERS, HEAT & LANE ASSIGNMENTS)

CLASS 4A

Individuals of impact -- Drake Relays Outstanding Female Performer

Agnes Sayeh of Des Moines Roosevelt is the top seed in the 100 and 200, is part of the third-rated sprint medley relay and surely will be inserted into another sprint relay.

Mahnee Watts of Bettendorf is the girl to beat in the 400 and 800, while the distance events could evolve into duels between

Stephanie Jenks of Linn-Mar and

Mackenzie Yanek of Pleasant Valley.

Teams to watch -- In a race in which 50 points will be a prerequisite just to reach the top five, three teams stand out. The 400-hundred meter race stands as a Mason-Dixon line for

Pleasant Valley and 

Des Moines Roosevelt. The Spartans are stronger in the distance races while the Roughriders are unmatched in the sprints.

West Des Moines Dowling, meanwhile, is solid all the way through. The next tier consists of

Waukee, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and 

Iowa City West. Jefferson is bidding for the first Metro top-five big-school finish in 10 years.

Projections -- 1. Pleasant Valley, 2. Des Moines Roosevelt, 3. West Des Moines Dowling, 4. Waukee, 5. Bettendorf, 6. Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7. Iowa City West, 8. Cedar Falls, 9. Iowa City High, 10. Urbandale.

CLASS 3A

Individuals of impact -- Though strong across the board, Davenport Assumption is loaded in the sprints behind juniors 

Rose Ripslinger, Maddie Irmen and

Emma Bassier. Waverly-Shell Rock's

Anna Holdiman is the top seed in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000.

Olivia Loy of Anamosa is the top contestant in the 400, second in the 200 and anchors the top-seeded sprint medley relay.

Teams to watch -- It's going to take something dramatic to keep the crown away from

Davenport Assumption. The trio of Ripslinger, Irmen and Bassier is projected to be good for more than 50 points in the 100, 200 and 400, and there are enough points in the relay events to give the Knights plenty of room for error.

Solon has 14 state entrants, led by thrower Kara Misel and distance runner Lauren Benzing, and figures to be the best of the rest.

Projections -- 1. Davenport Assumption, 2. Solon, 3. Pella, 4. Mount Pleasant, 5. Anamosa, 6. Waverly-Shell Rock, 7. MOC-Floyd Valley, 8. Dubuque Wahlert, 9. Carroll, 10. Harlan.

CLASS 2A

Individuals of impact -- Clayton Ridge has moved up to 2A, and sophomore

Jasmine Staebler is ready for the leap. She is top-seeded in the 400 and 800; she came within a whisker of the Drake Relays 800 title three weeks ago. West Branch twins

Courtney and

Lindsey Bruns are 1-2 in the 1,500 and 3,000, with one leading each of them.

Abbey Meyer runs on three top-seeded relays for Cascade.

Teams to watch -- Not a lot has changed in the past two months; defending champion

Cascade still is sitting pretty. The Cougars are unmatched in the relays; all seven are seeded to score, with the 800- and 1,600-meter relays and the sprint medley at No. 1.

Treynor enjoyed a big regional meet, one that propelled the Cardinals to the role of Cascade's chief chaser. They are top-seeded in three events, including both jumps. The Bruns sisters should give

West Branch big distance points.

Projections -- 1. Cascade, 2. Treynor, 3. West Branch, 4. Des Moines Christian, 5. Clayton Ridge, 6. Mount Vernon, 7. Davis County, 8. Hudson, 9. Ida Grove OA-BCIG, 10. Camanche.

CLASS 1A

Individuals of impact -- Distance ace

Rebekah Topham will be competing in four individual events, and figures as the favorite in the 800, 1,500, 3,000 and 400 hurdles.

Emily Toennies of Belle Plaine is a top-three seed in four events (200, 400, 400 relay, sprint medley relay) while

Nicole Miller anchors North Linn's strong middle-distance relays.

Ellie Herzberg of Manson-Northwest Webster is top-ranked in the 200 and 400.

Teams to watch -- Topham is seeded to score 34, and you figure she'll surpass that. If she does, and if distance teammate Jordyn Sindt can push

Griswold beyond 45 points, the Tigers will repeat.

Starmont has emerged as a threat behind long-jumper Chelsea Berry and distance runner Kendra Nolan. Five other teams are seeded to score in the 30s, including

Belle Plaine and

North Linn. The Lynx were poised to contend before a regional fall kept its powerful shuttle hurdle relay team from qualifying.

Projections -- 1. Griswold, 2. Starmont, 3. Hinton, 4. Woodward-Granger, 5. Belle Plaine, 6. North Linn, 7. Manson-NW Webster, 8. Earlham, 9. Elkader Central, 10. Jesup.