Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The wait is almost over.

After more than two years (732 days to be exact) the state track and field meet is ready to return.

The global pandemic cancelled all spring sports in 2020 taking with it the annual three-day coed state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

After a one-year hiatus the event returns to the Blue Oval inside Drake Stadium on Thursday with competition set to begin at 9 a.m.

With three days filled with 19 events across four classes divided into multiple sessions there will be plenty to take in as the state meet returns.

Your Prep Sports will provide a daily guide with a quick look at some of the top storylines to follow featuring area athletes.

The opening day of the meet on Thursday features three finals on the track and two field events for both boys and girls in all four classes.

Here are five things to watch Thursday as the action gets underway.

Stands Filled With Fans

The state meet is back this weekend and so too is the opportunity for a packed Drake Stadium.

After initially releasing a limited attendance plan early this month that offered two tickets per participant the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released a statement on Tuesday lifting those attendance limitations.

The state meet is now open to all spectators with tickets going on sale Tuesday at Noon and will follow the same schedule already set with two sessions on all three days.

Keeney Looks to Add to Title Count

Ashlyn Keeney was dominant in her state meet debut two years ago as a freshman winning Class 4A titles in the 3,000 and 1,500 and finishing runner-up in the 800.

Keeney will look to pick up where she left off on Thursday starting with the 3,000.

The defending 3,000 champion Keeney enters with the ninth fastest time in 4A this season at 10:20.94 but won the event at the state qualifier finishing in front of Dubuque Hempstead freshmen Keelee Leitzen and Julia Gehl who own the third and fifth fastest times this season.

Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon has the fastest time in 4A this season at 9:59.15.

West High’s Burt Chases Discus Title

West High has a long and storied history of state meet success in the throwing events but hasn’t had a state champion in the throws since 2010.

Senior Phoebe Burt is aiming to put a halt to that streak on Thursday.

Burt enters the discus with the top mark in Class 4A this season after uncorking a career-best toss of 135-11 at the state qualifier last week.

Pleasant Valley Senior Riley Vice sits behind Burt with a toss of 134-6 and Cedar Falls junior Myah Brinker (130-10) is the only other 4A athlete to go past 130 feet this season.

Burt will be seeking to become the first West High thrower to win gold since Micaela Haight won the shot put in 2010 and the first Trojan to claim distance gold since Courtney Fritz gave West High its fourth consecutive discus champion in 2009.

One Final City High vs. Liberty High 4×800 Matchup

City High and Liberty High each established themselves as 4×800 contenders early in the season.

Since then then two cross-town rivals have gone back and forth with each other in the event.

Liberty High emerged as a title contender with an impressive runner-up finish at the Drake Relays last month.

The Liberty High foursome of Gavin Keeney, Jack Kinzer, Caleb Schillinger and Bowen Gryp clocked a 7:54.63 which still sits behind only Drake champ Cedar Falls (7:53.37) as the second fastest time in the state this spring.

City High is perennial 4×800 contender winning a title in 2018 and a fifth-place finish in 2019 in the event.

The Little Hawk foursome of sophomores Truman Thompson, Ford Washburn and Ammon Smith and junior Nollen Abriam won edged Liberty High to win the state qualifier in 7:59.69.

Thursday the two teams meet one final time with state hardware on the line.

Solon 4×800 Tries to Set the Tone

Solon has its sights set on a team trophy and pushing perennial power and pre-meet favorite Dubuque Wahlert for the team title.

A strong start in the 4×800 relay could go a long way in setting the tone for what the Spartans hope is a memorable Saturday.

The Solon 4×800 team is more than capable of getting the Spartans off to the start they need.

Solon enters with the fourth fastest time in 3A this season after the foursome of Kaia Holtkamp, Meghan O’Neill, Anna Quillin and Gracie Federspiel ran a 9:43.58 at the state qualifier last week.

Wahlert won the state qualifier, finishing in front of Solon with the top time in 3A this season at 9:38.33.

Dallas Center-Grimes (9:39.25) and Ballard (9:41.68) are the only other 3A teams under 9:50 this season.

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