Midseason track and field update: Which teams look like state contenders in 3 weeks?

Take a breath.

The Drake Relays are behind us. The three-week series of conference meets, state qualifiers and state championships lie ahead.

This week, track and field teams throughout the state compete in an invitational or two and try to determine their lineups for the challenges that await.

Call this a mid-to-late-season outlook on the teams that have stamped themselves as title contenders come late May.

Class 4A

GIRLS

In 2024, Pleasant Valley interrupted a seven-year title run by Waukee/Waukee Northwest. If April was any indication, the pendulum is swinging back in Northwest’s direction.

The Wolves’ strength is numbers. Northwest is ranked No. 1 in five 4A relays, No. 2 in the other two. That depth, right now, appears to be too much for anybody else to match.

Pleasant Valley remains Northwest’s most serious threat. Grace Boleyn and Ani Wedemeyer headline the Spartans’ lethal middle-distance crew; PV ran 9:07.54 in winning the Drake 4x800.

After that, though, it’s more Central Iowa. Indianola isn’t a CIML school, but competes like one, and the Indians appear to be the third trophy team.

Statewide top five: 1. Waukee Northwest, 2. Pleasant Valley, 3. Indianola, 4. Johnston, 5. Ankeny.

BOYS

The runner-up last year, Cedar Falls has established itself as the team to beat. Jaden Merrick is part of a golden age in Iowa high school boys’ distance running, leading the 4A 3,200 crew at 9:02.74. The Tigers also lead the big-school class in the 4x400 and 4x800.

Iowa City West is poised to contend behind throwers Colin Whitters and James Barnett, plus a strong herd of sprinters and middle-distance star Moustafa Tiea.

Norwalk’s Kaiden Kunze is the 4A leader in the 200 and the long jump, and is part of the Warriors’ sprint medley relay which also stands at No. 1.

The other top teams hail from the CIML — West Des Moines Dowling, Ankeny Centennial, Waukee Northwest and defending-champion Ankeny.

Statewide top five: 1. Cedar Falls, 2. Iowa City West, 3. Norwalk, 4. West Des Moines Dowling, 5. Ankeny Centennial.

Class 3A

GIRLS

Five teams have separated themselves from the pack.

Led by Drake high jump champion London Warmuth and its stable of hurdlers, Adel ADM rates as a slight favorite. The Tigers have the top three 100-meter hurdlers in 3A, and Elise Coghland and Josi Dufoe have gone sub-15.

Mount Vernon, Marion and Pella have the tools to contend. For the Mustangs, Evelyn Moeller leads a strong distance crew, and Libby Dix figures to be a contender in both throwing events. Pella counters with distance ace Marissa Ferebee. Marion ranks in the top five in five relays.

Clear Lake’s Reese Brownlee was the girls’ Most Outstanding Performer at Drake after winning the long jump, 400 hurdles (sub-60) and open 400.

Statewide top five: 1. Adel ADM, 2. Mount Vernon, 3. Pella, 4. Marion, 5. Clear Lake.

BOYS

After winning three consecutive 3A titles from 2021 through 2023, Pella backtracked a smidge to third last year. The Dutch appear to be poised to reclaim their crown in May.

Pella currently tops 3A in both medley relays, and possesses big individual scorers in spirinter Harrison Mullens and distance man Canaan Dunham.

Speaking of distance guys, Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman was the boys’ Most Outstanding Performer at Drake after sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. His presence makes the Bobcats a contender to repeat.

The chase pack consists of Clear Creek Amana, Newton, Waverly-Shell Rock and Gilbert. CCA’s Landon Prince swept the throwing events at Drake, and sophomore Tay Seals is a young star.

Statewide top five: 1. Pella, 2. Western Dubuque, 3. Clear Creek Amana, 4. Newton, 5. Gilbert.

Class 2A

GIRLS

Pella Christian can sprint with anybody, in any class. The speed of Rachel Kacmarynski, Meredith Van Wyk and Bailey Vos (none of which are seniors, and ranked No. 1 in the 100, 200 and 400, respectively) gives the Eagles — Drake Relays sprint medley relay champions — so much flexibility, both individually and in relays.

Who can push Pella Christian? Maybe Spirit Lake. Leah Bolluyt is the 2A leader in the 100-meter hurdles, Lauren Travis in the shot put.

The race for the other trophy, as of now, looks like a three-team chase — defending champion Van Meter, plus River Valley Conference powers Tipton and Mid-Prairie.

Ella Hein has developed into a fine complement to distance ace Noelle Steines at Tipton.

Statewide top five: 1. Pella Christian, 2. Spirit Lake, 3. Van Meter, 4. Tipton, 5. Mid-Prairie.

BOYS

About 8 miles in the Iowa Great Lakes region separate Spirit Lake and Okoboji high schools, and those two teams are the current frontrunners.

Spirit Lake appears more than capable of double-scoring, big, in the 1,600, the 110 hurdles, and maybe the 3,200, and the Indians lead 2A in the 4x100 and 4x800.

Okoboji’s Evan Osler is the 2A leader in the 400 and 800, and the Pioneers are No. 1 in both medleys.

Treynor’s Brady Wallace was the Drake 110-meter hurdles champion. Wallace and Cauy Konz will be major point-scorers. The Cardinals are No. 1 in the shuttle hurdle relay, Okoboji second, Spirit Lake third.

Statewide top five: 1. Spirit Lake, 2. Okoboji, 3. Treynor, 4. Denver, 5. Mid-Prairie.

Class 1A

GIRLS

Last year, the top five teams were separated by four points, with Saint Ansgar claiming the crown with 40. It appears to be similarly crowded at the top this spring.

Nashua-Plainfield and Council Bluffs St. Albert were second and third in 2024, and both have a reliable hammer. For the Huskies, it’s Oklahoma State recruit Kadence Huck, the Drake 800-meter champion, who also is top-ranked in 2A in the 200 and 400.

St. Albert counters with Lili Denton, top-rated in the 1,500 and 3,000, and No. 2 to Huck in the 800.

Anna Lursen (top five in three events) and Mariah Myers (top three in both throwing events) give Fort Dodge St. Edmond the look of a viable threat.

Statewide top five: 1. Council Bluffs St. Albert, 2. Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 3. Nashua-Plainfield, 4. Fremont-Mills, 5. HLV/Tri-County.

BOYS

The third-place finisher in 2A last year, South Hamilton is in 1A now, and appears to be a co-favorite with two-time defending champion Lisbon.

South Hamilton’s Kolby Hodnefield is the 1A state leader in the 200 and 400, and is listed on the Hawks’ sprint medley relay and 4x400, both of which rank at or near the top.

Lisbon counters with two top-ranked relays (4x100 and 4x200), and both medleys are ranked second. Tiernan Boots has the third-best 100 time.

Led by sprinter Caleb Haack, Iowa Valley is ranked in the top eight in eight different events.

Statewide top five: 1. South Hamilton, 2. Lisbon, 3. Iowa Valley, 4. Oakland Riverside, 5. Guthrie Center ACGC.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com