Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Terry Coleman (18th season)

Last season: Second at Valley Divisional meet; Ninth at 4A state meet with 27 points

Key returners: Emma Cooper, Sr.; Ayana Lindsey, Soph.; CeCe Kelly-Harvey, Soph.; Emma Clark, Sr.; Caroline Schaeckenbach, Soph.; Ella Cook, Soph.; Azurra Sartini-Rideout, Sr.; Jordan Sekafetz, Soph.; Kate Swenning, Sr.; Jae Dancer, Soph.; Lilly Reynolds, Soph.; Anna Lindower, Sr.; Aly Hecker, Sr.; Anna Spellman, Sr.; Zoe Burgess, Sr.; Alia Vanderhoef, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Mia DePrenger, Fr.; T’Nia Ansley, Fr.; Rowan Boulter, Fr.; Tatum Frazier, Fr.; Peyton Naeve, Fr.

Headliner: Senior sprinters Emma Clark and Emma Cooper each earned a pair of state relay medals last season and expect to again play a key role in relays for the Little Hawks this season.

Keep an eye on: Caroline Schaeckenbach made a splash in her first season of prep track qualifying for the state meet in four events and leaving with a pair of medals. Schaeckenbach qualified for state in both the 100 and 400 hurdles, placing fourth in the 400 hurdles and helped the City High 4×400 relay team to a fifth-place finish.

Circle the date: May 2 Mississippi Divisional. City High will host the MVC divisional meet after finishing runner-up in its divisional meet last season.

Outlook: City High made a big leap last season in the head coaching return of Terry Coleman and the Little Hawks bring back a roster fully capable of making more strides this season.

Cooper, Clark and Schaeckenbach headline a strong list of returners that also includes state medalists Ayana Lindsey, CeCe Kelly-Harvey, Ella Cook and Azurra Sartini-Rideout.

Harvey, Lindsey and Sartini-Rideout all helped City High to top-five relay finishes at the state meet last season while Cook placed fifth in the long jump.

The Little Hawks expect to be even deeper this season as they attempt to continue to climb the 4A ranks.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Jane Astor (29th season)

Assistant coaches: Teri Schultejans, Megan Miller, Bob Broghammer

Last season: Seventh at WAMAC West Division Meet; 19th at 3A state meet with 13 points

Key returners: Karsyn Stratton, Jr.; Ainsley Schrock, Jr.; Rylee Rummelhart, Sr.; Cierra Lacina, Sr.; Kaylie Barker, Sr.; Kayla Jiras, Soph.; Cileigh Smiddy, Soph.; Abby Stevens, Soph.; Lauren Lasswell, Soph.; Madeline Fox, Soph.; Kattelyn LeFleur, Soph.; Kayla Jiras, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Emma Mathis, Fr.; Emily Coleman, Fr.; Allie Kounkel, Fr.; Eliza Evans, Soph.; Sarina Dietrick, Fr.; Liz Schultz, Fr.; Kaitlin Trimpe, Fr.

Headliner: Junior Ainsley Schrock is back to defender her Class 3A discus title after becoming just the second Clipper in program history to win a title in the event with a toss of 132-4 last spring.

Keep an eye on: Following a strong freshman season two years ago Karsyn Stratton earned her first career state medal in the long jump placing sixth last spring with a leap of 16-10 ½.  

Circle the date: April 5 Clipper Classic. Clear Creek Amana will get an early season gauge as to where it stands when it hosts its own 14-team meet that features WAMAC foes Center Point-Urbana, Solon, Mount Vernon and Williamsburg.

Outlook: Schrock and Stratton headline a strong group of returners after picking up state medals last season as sophomores but the Clippers should feature a deeper pool of talent up and down the lineup this season.

Senior Cierra Lacina returns after placing 13th in the 400 last season and Stratton and Lacina make up half of a sprint medley team that placed 15th at the state meet last season.  

Veteran coach Jane Astor is short on upperclassmen this season but has liked the early leadership shown by Katelyn LeFleur, Kayla Jiras and Madeline Fox.

Solon

Coach: Brent Sands (18th season)

Last season: First at WAMAC East Meet; 11th at 3A state meet with 27 points

Key returners: Erin Kerkhoff, Sr.; Gabbi Bullard, Jr.; Rachael Nelson, Sr.; Peyton Sands, Jr.; Taylor Ryan, Sr.; Cayley, Annis, Jr.; Abby Smith, Sr.; Ellie Beckicka, Sr.; Calista Haasl, Sr.; Jeannie Jedlicka, Sr.; Taryn Hansen, Sr.; Saige Hauer, Sr.; Hannah Kramer, Sr.; Raysa Garbes, Sr.; Jenna Bachus, Sr.; Khaylor Fleck, Jr.; Aira Foster, Jr.; Jenna LaDage, Jr.; Monet Barnhouse, Soph.; Ava Conrad, Soph.; Kiersten Conway, Soph.; Katelyn Coons, Soph.; Ashley Stinocher, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Emma Bock, Fr.; Jada Buffington, Fr.; Kaia Holtkamp, Fr.; Annika Kruse, Fr.; Makinley Levin, Fr.; Shawna Lindemann, Fr.

Headliner: Senior Erin Kerkhoff is a two-time four-event state qualifier and earned four state medals last season including a third consecutive individual medal in the 400 meters.

Keep an eye on: The 4×400 relay has become a point of pride for Solon over the past several seasons with the Spartans consistently rewriting the school record in the event. All four members that posted a school-record 3:58.37 in a runner-up finish at the state meet return in Kerkhoff, and fellow seniors Taylor Ryan and Abby Smith and junior Cayley Annis.

Circle the date: May 2 WAMAC Conference meet at Central DeWitt. Weather forced the cancellation of the WAMAC Super Meet last season and Solon dominated the WAMAC East Divisional held in its place. The Spartans will once again be Super Meet title contenders this season.

Outlook: Solon just missed another top-10 state finish a year ago, placing 11th with 27 in a crowded 3A field. The Spartans once again have a roster capable of putting together a strong three days to end the season at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Kerkhoff is among the top performers in 3A and is surrounded by plenty of talent that should make Solon strong again in the relays.

Ryan, Smith, Annis all return with state meet experience while juniors Peyton Sands and Gabbi Bullard and senior Rachael Nelson all return from a shuttle hurdle relay team that placed fourth last season.

Solon also welcomes a strong group of freshman and brings back 16 other letterwinners from a season ago.

Regina

Coach: Liam Hartley (1st season)

Assistant coaches: Dan Rolling, Ryan Bell, Chad Swope, Katy Kambhu  

Last season: Ninth at River Valley Conference Meet

Key returners: Annie Gahan, Soph.; Jaedynn Evans, Sr.; Jess Hunter, Sr.; Madeline Adam, Jr.; Abby Clark, Soph.; Olivia Clark, Soph.; Emma Sueppel, Soph.; Annalee Bartels, Soph.; Mary Catherine Graff, Sr.; Molly Vittetoe, Sr.

Newcomers to watch: Maeve Dunne, Sr.; Josie Pursley, Fr.; Josie Voss, Fr.; Emma Nibaur, Fr.; Hope Simpson, Fr.; Lillian Simpson, Fr.

Headliner: Sophomore Annie Gahan impressed in her first trip to Drake Stadium last spring picking up a medal with an eighth-place finish in the 400 hurdles and finishing 10th in the 400.

Keep an eye on: Senior Iowa volleyball recruit Jaedynn Evans will attempt to close her prep career with a return trip to Drake Stadium after placing 14th at the 2A state meet in the 100 last season.

Circle the date: May 2 at River Valley Conference meet at Camanche. Regina was ninth at the River Valley Conference meet a season ago but has the talent to make a big jump in the RVC standings this spring.

Outlook: First-year head coach Liam Hartley inherits a roster that features some young talent with the likes of Gahan as well as a strong group of veterans in Evans and fellow seniors Molly Vittetoe, Mary Catherine Graff and Jess Hunter.

Hartley got a good look at the level of the Regina talent last fall when he directed the Regals to a runner-up finish at the Class 1A state cross country meet.

Much of that distance group transfers to the track this spring led by sophomore Annalee Bartels and freshman Josie Voss who were the top two finishers for the Regals at state cross country.

West Branch

Coach: Ben Holub (2nd season) 

Assistant coaches: Jeff Wrede

Last season: Eighth at River Valley Conference Meet

Key returners: Aubrey Baylor, Jr.; Nicki Henson, Soph.; Sasha Koenig, Soph.; Autumn Kolpin, Sr.; Kaiya Luneckas, Jr.; Lexie Peak, Soph.; Mikayla Prusha, Jr.; Jaylen Votroubek, Jr.; Allie Laschanzky, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Chloe Sarver, Fr.; AnDee Atkins, Fr.; Madison Hovancik, Fr.; Delaynie Luneckas, Fr.; Laikyn Worrell, Fr.

Headliner: Jaylen Votroubek was a three-event state qualifier and picked up a pair of state medals finishing fifth in the 400 hurdles and helping the West Branch shuttle hurdle relay team to a fifth-place performance.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Sasha Koenig is seeking a breakthrough season after competing on the 4×400 and shuttle hurdle relay teams at the state meet last season.

Circle the date: April 11 Chad Gates Invitational. The Bears host their own seven-team home meet that features Williamsburg and conference foe Wilton.

Outlook: Second-year head coach Ben Holub brings back a strong nucleus from a team that placed eighth at the River Valley Conference meet last season.

Votroubek, Koenig and Kaiya Luneckas all return from the Bears’ shuttle hurdle relay team that placed fifth at the 2A state meet highlighting a list of nine returning letterwinners.

Senior Autumn Kolpin and juniors Aubrey Baylor and Mikayla Prusha are expected to add depth this season as West Branch attempts to climb the ladder at the RVC meet.

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