Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf repeats as 2A boys’ state track high jump champion

DES MOINES — Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf drew up his arms and clapped demonstratively and repeatedly.

The Raiders’ star high jumper had already secured his second consecutive title in the event during Friday’s Class 2A state tack and field meet at Drake Stadium, so he basked in the crowd’s appreciative applause as it echoed his rhythmic hand slaps.

“It feels amazing,” Weisskopf said after clearing 6-7 to claim the high jump crown. “Just like last year.”

Weisskopf also arched his body across the bar at 6-7 at last year’s state meet, so he set his sights on 6-9 and a quarter inch when he stood alone in the spotlight during Friday afternoon’s action. He failed to set that personal record, but he didn’t dwell on that. Weisskopf, a junior, will seek to achieve a three-peat next season.

“I plan on (that), but anything can happen,” the four-star Iowa football recruit said. “Hopefully I can.”

It’s certainly possible — and Weisskopf is adept at achieving things deemed highly improbable. Take Thursday, where he earned state runner-up honors in the shot put despite just learning how to throw it this season.

“It wasn’t too difficult,” Weisskopf said. “I just had to learn how to glide because I obviously rotate in discus and stuff, but gliding was a tough thing to overcome and learn, so I was just glad my coaches taught me really well.”

About the discus: Weisskopf competed in that event right after his repeat championship in the high jump. He took seventh, but capped a unique two-day odyssey through disparate field events with a robust total of 20 points.

“Just to help the team out in team points to hopefully get that state championship for the team, that would be nice,” said Weisskopf, whose team trailed 2A leader Des Moines Christian by two points, 30-28, through Friday’s events.

Mid-Prairie girls win 800-meter relay, second in distance medley

So that race remained tight — just as the Mid-Prairie girls’ effort to win a fifth straight distance medley relay proved to be.

The Golden Hawks’ quartet of Madeline Schrader, Amara Jones, Jovi Evans, and Danielle Hostetler finished second in a time of 4:12.16. Van Meter won the event in a state-record time of 4:06.40.

“I remember sitting in my teacher’s classroom watching Mid-Prairie win the D-med,” Schrader said. “To be a part of it now is just amazing.”

It got better for the Golden Hawks when Schrader, Jones and Evans teamed with Tabitha Evans to win the school’s first-ever state title in the girls’ 800-meter relay. The latter Evans dominated the anchor leg as Mid-Prairie finished in 1:44.49 to celebrate the historic victory.

“It’s really exciting and surreal because I’m so excited to run with this group of girls,” said Jovi Evans, a freshman who ran with three seniors. “It’s sad that it’s coming close to an end but I’m so excited we got to experience this at least once together.”

The two-time defending champion Golden Hawks enter Saturday’s finals tied with Van Meter atop the 2A standings with 28 points.

Schrader got Mid-Prairie off to a strong start in the 800 relay, then settled into her customary trackside spot.

“Normally after every race I tire myself out more from cheering on my teammates as they finish than I do when I run,” Schrader said.

Friday’s Class 2A results

BOYS

Team leaders — 1. Des Moines Christian 30; 2. Williamsburg 28; 3. Shenandoah 24; 4. Mediapolis 23; 5. Okoboji 22; 6. Clarinda 21; 7. Van Buren County 18.5; 8. Louisa-Muscatine 18; 9. OABCIG 16; 10. West Sioux 14.

Distance medley — 1. Mediapolis (Lipper, Schmidgall, Arnold, Rosas), 3:33.81; 2. Okoboji (Sehman, Salmon, Jones, Osler), 3:35.25; 3. Des Moines Christian (Carlisle, Fadden, Jingst, Ten Pas), 3:35.83; 4. Anamosa (Strube, Gatto, Countryman, Keister, 3:36.93; 6. Waukon (Johnson, Berns, VanderVelden, Gulla), 3:37.40; 8. Monticello (Sauser, Jordan, Jesenovec, Temple), 3:38.13.

High jump — 1. Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg) 6-07; 2. Beau Goodwin (KPWC) 6-4; 3. Benjamin Gerken (Carroll Kuemper) 6-3.

800 relay — 1. OABCIG ( Peters, Winterrowd, Behrendsen, DeJean), 1:29.27; 2. Williamsburg (Wetjen, Heitman, Huedepohl, Douglas), 1:29.48; 3. Northeast Goose Lake (Schmidt, Bird, Gray, Weispfenning), 1:30.27.

400 hurdles — 1. Anthony Duncan (Van Buren County), 54.97; 2. Jaden Damiano (Iowa Falls-Alden), 55.51; 3. Isaac Wenthe (Sheldon), 55.93.

Discus — 1. Trevor Veenstra (Pella Christian), 180-05; 2. Spencer Kessel (Louisa-Muscatine), 179-07; 3. Tyler Laughlin (Shenandoah), 169-03; 7. Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg), 162-05.

GIRLS

Team leaders — 1. tie, Mid-Prairie and Van Meter, 28; 3. West Lyon 18; 4. Unity Christian 17; 5. KPWC 13; 6. Estherville Lincoln Central 11; 7. tie, Panorama; Sumner-Fredericksburg; Treynor; Forest City; Hinton; New Hampton 10.

Distance medley — 1. Van Meter (Speltz, F. Netten, M. Kelly, C. Kelly), 4:06.40; 2. Mid-Prairie (Schrader, Jones, Evans, Hostetler), 4:12.16; 3. Sibley-Ocheyedan (Wingate, Hensch, Ackerman, Brouwer), 4:13.60; 5. Jesup (Mead, Zelle, Bose, Wright), 4:15.40; 6. Williamsburg (Hughes, Wetjen, Finn, Marovets), 4:15.62

Discus — 1. Allie Schweitzberger (KPWC), 133-08; 2. Jana Ter Wee (West Lyon), 131-02; 3. Maddie Fischer (Anamosa), 127-07; 4. Hannah Schroeder (North Fayette Valley), 122-04; 7. Isabelle Graubard (Alburnett), 116-09; 8. Sarah Dean (North Fayette Valley), 110-05.

800 relay — 1. Mid-Prairie (Schrader, Jones, J. Evans, T. Evans) 1:44.49; 2. Okoboji (Jorgensen, Holms, Wells, Allen), 1:45.82; 3. Unity Christian (Schoonhoven, Noteboom, Barrow, Heynen), 1:45.84.

400 hurdles — 1. Clara Teigland (Treynor), 1:01.72; 2. Eden Moore (Van Meter), 1:03.33; 3. Devin Simon (Cascade), 1:04.21.

High jump — 1. Maddie Olson (Sheldon), 5-09; 2. Molly Shafer (Eddyville EBF), 5-04; 3. Trista Ohlmeier (MVAOCOU), 5-04.00.

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com