What to Watch on Friday at the State Track and Field Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Day one of the state track meet is in the books.
The annual three-day event got off to an exciting and soggy start on Thursday with rain showers soaking Drake Stadium in Des Moines for much of the afternoon and evening.
Friday brings a second consecutive day split between three finals on the track and two field events in all four classes.
Here is a quick look at what to watch on Friday with Your Prep Sports area teams.
Solon Seeking More Relay Success
It was a strong start for the Solon relay teams on Thursday.
Solon set a school-record while winning the 4×800 and qualified its shuttle hurdle relay team for the finals.
The Spartans will try to duplicate that relay success on Friday starting with its top-seeded distance medley squad.
The foursome of Makinley Levin, Sophia Stahle, Gracie Federspiel and Emma Bock enter with the top time in 3A this season after clocking a season-best 4:11.37 at the state qualifier last week.
Getting points from its 4×200 team that enters with the seventh best time in 3A this season would be a nice boost for Solon in the team race.
Clear Creek Amana Distance Medley Looks to Finish What it Started
Some relays are set up to qualifying for state, some to score points and others to win.
That’s the case for the Clear Creek Amana distance medley squad.
The foursome of Harrison Rosenberg, Gage Freeman, Gavin Zillyette and Tom Johnson showed early on this season it was capable of big things finishing third at the Drake Relays behind Class 4A contenders Ames and City High.
Since the Drake Relays showing the Clippers haven’t let off the gas and enter Friday with the top time in Class 3A this season at 3:35.28.
Dallas Center-Grimes (3:35.84), Newton (3:35.88) and Humboldt (3:35.96) have all gone under 3:36 this season and should provide plenty of competition.
Annie Gahan’s Busy Day
Gahan opened a busy week at the state meet on Thursday by helping the Regina shuttle hurdle relay team reach the finals.
Things get significantly more hectic for Gahan on Friday.
The senior standout will compete in the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles on Friday and will run the anchor leg on the Regina 4×400 relay.
Gahan enters with the seventh fastest time in 2A in the 100 hurdles at 15.74 and is a two-time medalist in the 400 hurdles where she holds 16th fastest time in 2A this season.
City High Distance Medley Looks to Make a Push
City High turned heads with a runner-up finish in the distance medley at the Drake Relays last month.
The Little Hawks will attempt to turn in an encore performance in the event on Friday.
City High enters with the third-fastest time in 4A this season at 3:35.1 and the foursome of Ronnie Major, Akili Mattox, Jovan Harris and Ammon Smith clocked a 3:39.18 at the state qualifying meet last week the seventh fastest time among qualifiers.
Cedar Falls has the top time on the year at 3:30.82 while Ames is second with a 3:32.02.
Iowa City Rivals Meet Again in 400 Hurdles
City High senior Lillian Reynolds edged West High freshman Erinn Varga by .16 in the 400 hurdles at the state qualifying meet last week.
The two Iowa City rivals will meet again eight days later with some state meet hardware on the line.
Reynolds holds the seventh fastest time in 4A this season at 1:06.59 while Varga ranks ninth in 4A this season at 1:06.75 with both clocking season-best times at the state qualifier.
The two will go head to head in the third and final heat on Friday.
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