Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – A solid junior sports season for Jovan Harris ended with three medals at the state track and field meet last May.

As a senior Harris has gone from solid to exceptional.

The transition for Harris began with football in the fall where he starred as defensive back on the Little Hawks’ semifinal squad.

Harris continued his strong senior year in basketball averaging 6.4 points, 5.9 rebounds per game this winter while leading City High in blocked shots.

This spring Harris is in the spot where he really excels, on the track, and his rise toward stardom has continued.

“I think what has allowed him to have the success this season it’s clearly the confidence that he gained during the football season and also during the basketball season,” City High track and field coach Mike Moore said. “Being out there and competing at an extremely high level in those sports gave him a lot of confidence coming into track.”

After a strong finish to his junior track season Harris has emerged as one of the state’s top athletes as a senior.

Harris currently sits in the top seven in the state in three different individual events and is ranked fourth in Iowa in both the 400 and 400 hurdles.

“I’ve just been trusting in the process and believing in myself and believing in yourself will take you a long way,” Harris said. “We are having a great season but I am hoping it gets better. I’m not happy just yet I want to be happiest in May when we win a state title.”

Harris emerging as one of the top track and field athletes in the state has been a big part of what makes City High a legitimate title contender in Class 4A.

This season he is seventh in the state in the 200 with a time of 22.33 and fourth in the 400 (49.91) and 400 hurdles (55.3).

“In my opinion I really think he’s one of the better track and field athletes in the state for sure,” Moore said. “He’s definitely up there.”
Last season Harris competed in four relays at the state meet helping City High to top eight finishes in the sprint medley, distance medley and 4×100.

This season he is part of three City High relays currently sitting in the top six in the state.

City High sits second in the distance medley relay, fifth in the 4×400 and sixth in the 4×200.

Individual event or relay, Harris no preference as long as it helps City High pile up points.

“I’m not really focused on winning my own titles I want to win a team state championship,” Harris said. “Whatever I need to do to make that happen that’s what I want to do. If I need to run more relays to win a state title I’m going to be in more relays. If I need to be in more open events to win a state title I’m going to be in more open events. I just want to win a state title for the school.”

Part of what makes Harris so valuable is his versatility.

His other event at the state meet last season was the shuttle hurdle relay.

Moore suggest that conceivable he could run up to 800s and fit on any relay.

“Obviously the talent is there and we’ve know that,” Moore said. “We’ve had to use him to fill some holes in some relays and that’s what his role was and now his role this year is whatever we can get him in to score points at the state meet we are going to get him in. He is a great kid and he has fun but when it’s time to work he works harder than anyone and he doesn’t back down from anything.”

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