Iowa high school state track and field 2023: Tracking the top girls’ 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 girls’ field, along with The Gazette’s championship picks:

Class 4A

Top individuals: The last time Ames senior Ali Frandsen visited Drake Stadium, she exited as the Most Outstanding Performer in the Drake Relays high school girls’ division. Expect a similar performance from Frandsen this weekend; she is the top seed in both hurdles events, plus the shuttle hurdle relay and 1,600 relay. Claire Farrell of Norwalk is the favorite in the 100 and 200. The distance events should be dramatic, with top runners like Adrienne Buettner-Cable (Des Moines Roosevelt), Addison Dorenkamp (West Des Moines Valley) and Lydia Sommer (Pleasant Valley). Cedar Rapids Kennedy twins Addison and Sidney Swartzendruber rank 1-2 in the 400, and both will run on the sprint medley relay and 1,600-meter relay.

Scouting the team race: For the first time since 2015, the championship trophy is likely to reside outside the Waukee city limits. Ames has positioned itself nicely for its first title since going back-to-back in 1995 and 1996. Frandsen is the gem of a squad that is projected to score in 13 events and tally upward of 80 points. After the Little Cyclones, it’s a multi-team scramble for the runner-up and third-place trophies. Defending-champion Waukee Northwest remains formidable and should score in the vicinity of 50 points, as should West Des Moines Dowling, Pleasant Valley and Johnston.

Projected points leaders: Ames 84, Pleasant Valley 53, West Des Moines Dowling 52, Johnston 50, Waukee Northwest 48.

Our trophy picks: 1. Ames, 2. Waukee Northwest, 3. West Des Moines Dowling.

Class 3A

Top individuals: Charlee Morton, a sophomore at Hampton-Dumont/CAL, swept the throwing events at the Drake Relays three weeks ago. Ballard’s Paityn Noe is one of the state’s all-time bests in the distance races, and the future Arkansas runner is the favorite in the 1,500 and 3,000. Jessica Kyne of Des Moines Hoover is an elite sprinter. Solon’s hopes for a repeat title are bolstered by middle-distance star Gracie Federspiel (seeded No. 1 in the 400 and as the anchor in two relays) and hurdler Sophia Stahle (the favorite in the 400 hurdles).

Scouting the team race: Last year, Solon backed off somewhat at the state-qualifying meet, then took the state competition by storm, scoring 84 points. There was no holding back at regionals this time, and the Spartans have established themselves as a clear favorite to repeat. Solon is the top seed in four events (Federspiel in the 400, Stahle in the 400 hurdles, plus the 4x400 and 4x800) and projected No. 2 in two others. Led by a strong sprinting crew, 2022 runner-up Adel ADM is the Spartans’ most viable threat. Mount Vernon is seeded to score in 10 events, Decorah eight, Dubuque Wahlert seven.

Projected points leaders: Solon 75, Adel ADM 52, Dubuque Wahlert 43, Decorah 38, Mount Vernon 33.

Our trophy picks: 1. Solon, 2. Adel ADM, 3. Decorah.

Class 2A

Top individuals: The distance races certainly will be a treat. You’ve got quality runners like Hillary Trainor of Sumner-Fredericksburg (the top seed in the 1,500 and 3,000), plus Danielle Hostetler of Mid-Prairie, Madison Brouwer of Sibley-Ocheyedan and Clare Kelly of Van Meter. The short sprints probably won’t be as tight, with Panorama’s Jaidyn Sellers taking center stage. Jana Ter Wee of West Lyon is projected to sweep the throws, and Clara Teigland of Treynor could do likewise in the hurdle events.

Scouting the team race: Mid-Prairie has won four consecutive 2A championships, but the role of favorite this week shifts to Van Meter. The Bulldogs are favored in both medley relays, and the Kelly sisters ought to double-score in 800 and 1,500. Mid-Prairie, meanwhile, is in the chase pack along with Denver and Unity Christian. Hostetler is a title threat in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000, and the Golden Hawks should score well in the sprint relays. Denver will be a player in the sprint relays, and Unity owns top-three seeds in five events.

Projected points leaders: Van Meter 60, Denver 52, Unity Christian 48, Mid-Prairie 33, Sibley-Ocheyedan 31, Treynor 31.

Our trophy picks: 1. Van Meter, 2. Denver, 3. Mid-Prairie.

Class 1A

Top individuals: Drake Relays 1,500-meter champion Noelle Steines of Calamus-Wheatland is projected to claim four gold medals, in the 800-, 1,500-, 3,000-meter races and the distance medley relay. The duo of Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce, who led Algona Garrigan to the last two state basketball championships, are track and field aces too: Crooks is the favorite in both throws; Joyce is a top-three seed in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump. Kadence Huck, who led Nashua-Plainfield to the 1A team title last year, is the 400 favorite and the prime challenger to Steines in the 800 and 1,500. Newell-Fonda’s Mia and Mary Walker are seeded 1-2 in the 100.

Scouting the team race: With Steines’ capability of winning four events, Calamus-Wheatland sets the bar at 40 points. Who can surpass that? Focus on Garrigan, which ought to get a pair of field-event golds from Crooks and some major points from Joyce. If the they can tack on major points in the shuttle hurdle relay and double-score in the 100 hurdles, the Golden Bears might be golden, indeed. A number of teams — Newell-Fonda, Alta-Aurelia, Oakland Riverside, Nashua-Plainfield, Lisbon, Pekin and Grand View Christian — could stride into contention if they can consistently surpass their seeds.

Projected points leaders: Algona Garrigan 45, Calamus-Wheatland 40, Newell-Fonda 36, Alta-Aurelia 34, Oakland Riverside 31.

Our trophy picks: 1. Algona Garrigan, 2. Calamus-Wheatland, 3. Grand View Christian.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com