Iowa high school state track and field 2023: Tracking the top boys’ individuals and teams

DES MOINES — The Iowa high school state track and field meet begins at 9 a.m. Thursday at Drake Stadium and runs through Saturday.

Here are the top individuals and teams in the boys’ field, along with The Gazette’s championship picks:

Class 4A

Top individuals: When it comes to the distance events, keep one eye on West Des Moines Dowling’s Jackson Heidesch and Iowa City High’s Ford Washburn, and the other eye on the clock. The all-time Iowa best is 8:50.43 in the 3,200-meter run, 4:05.39 in the 1,600 — and these guys will make a run at both marks. Linn-Mar possesses a pair of major scorers in T.J. Jackson (high jump and long jump) and Nicholas Gorsich (high and low hurdles). Miles Thompson of Cedar Rapids Washington will conclude a speedy career; he is the favorite in the 100- and 200-meter races.

Scouting the team race: Iowa City West outscored Iowa City High and Linn-Mar at an MVC divisional meet two weeks ago, and it appears the Trojans, Little Hawks and Lions will be the major players in the 4A race, along with Johnston. Linn-Mar is the top seed in five events (Jackson’s jumps, Gorsich’s hurdles and the shuttle hurdle relay), and as a result, the Lions are in position to earn the Metro’s first 4A title since 2016 (Cedar Rapids Prairie). Last year’s runner-up, City has room to grow drastically on its 59-point projection because Washburn took it easy in the district 3,200 and the Little Hawks did likewise in the 3,200 relay, an event they won at the Drake Relays.

Projected points leaders: Linn-Mar 87, Johnston 66, Iowa City High 59, Iowa City West 59, Cedar Falls 52.

Our trophy picks: 1. Linn-Mar, 2. Iowa City High, 3. Iowa City West.

Class 3A

Top individuals: On a team with multiple stars, nobody shines more brightly than Pella’s Chase Lauman. The senior is the favorite in the 800 and 1,600 and the No. 2 seed in the 3,200. He is slotted as the anchor to the Dutch’s top-seeded distance medley. Logan Fairchild of Winterset is the top seed in the 100 and 200, the first of which he will try to unseat 2022 champion Alex Mota of Marion. Grayson Hartman of Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed the Drake Relays championship in the 110-meter hurdles. Mount Vernon’s Jensen Meeker and Zach Fall are seeded 1-2 in the 400 and will play a role on the Mustangs’ strong middle-distance relays.

Scouting the team race: Last year’s runner-up, Pella emerged as the favorite after 2022 champion Dallas Center-Grimes moved to Class 4A. The Dutch are stacked behind Lauman (who should be involved in 32-40 points) and a throwing duo that should keep the points coming. In all, Pella is seeded to score in 10 events. If the Dutch are to receive a challenge, it will come from relay-based Western Dubuque. The Bobcats are favored in three relays (4x800, sprint medley and 4x100) and projected to place in all seven. Led by its stable of 400 and 800 runners, Mount Vernon should be in the hunt for the third trophy.

Projected points leaders: Pella 85, Western Dubuque 71, Mount Vernon 38, Spirit Lake 37, Mount Pleasant 32.

Our trophy picks: 1. Pella, 2. Western Dubuque, 3. Mount Vernon.

Class 2A

Top individuals: Drake Relays champion Spencer Kessel of Louisa-Muscatine is a consistent 60-foot-plus shot-put guy, and has legitimate hopes of sweeping the throws. Anthony Duncan of Van Buren County is the top seed in the 400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles. Owen Douglas of Williamsburg and Karter Decker of MFL MarMac are two of the top sprinters, and Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf is the high jump favorite and a potential top-five guy in both throws. He didn’t blaze to fast times at districts, but distance ace Aaron Fynaardt of Des Moines Christian certainly will when it counts this weekend.

Scouting the team race: With 2022 titlist Spirit Lake now residing in 3A, a new champion will be crowned. Des Moines Christian and Williamsburg finished second and third, and both are contenders this week. Don’t be fooled by DMC’s seed points (26), because Fynaardt and his distance buddies ran to advance at districts and will score big at state. DMC and pre-state favorite Mediapolis will lock horns in the distance races and relays. Weisskopf and Douglas figure to push Williamsburg into contention, and a championship isn’t out of the question if Mediapolis and DMC cancel each other out somewhat in the distance events.

Projected points leaders: Mediapolis 55, Williamsburg 48, Van Buren County 30, Tipton 27, Des Moines Christian 26.

Our trophy picks: 1. Mediapolis, 2. Des Moines Christian, 3. Williamsburg.

Class 1A

Top individuals: Mount Ayr junior Ryce Reynolds was the Drake Relays champion in the 400-meter dash, and is the 1A favorite in that event, along with the 400-meter hurdles. Bryer Prochniak of North Union and Baylor Speidel of Lisbon are the top sprinters, seeded 1-2 in both the 100 and 200. Speidel’s teammate, Luke Czarnecki, is a contender in both of the jumps. Danville’s A.J. Bonnesen has the top district time in the 1,600 and 3,200, and Columbus Community’s Triston Miller is one of the state’s top high-hurdlers, in any class.

Scouting the team race: A Saturday stretch of five running events (800, shuttle hurdle relay, 100, 110 hurdles and 200) could propel Lisbon to the top. The 1A third-place team last year, Lisbon owns a top-three seed in all five of those events, and nine overall. If anybody is going to keep pace with the Lions, it’s vastly improved Columbus Community, which is seeded to score in eight events and double-score in the 100 and 200. Lawton-Bronson is top-seeded in four events, including three relays, and Reynolds should help Mount Ayr climb into trophy contention.

Projected points leaders: Lisbon 69, Columbus Community 54, Lawton-Bronson 46, Lynnville-Sully 30, four with 24.

Our trophy picks: 1. Lisbon, 2. Columbus Community, 3. Mount Ayr.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com