Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The first two days of the state track and field meet are in the book.

The final chapter of the 2022 season that ends with team titles will be written on Saturday.

After two days divided into sessions all four classes compete together on Saturday with the focus on the blue oval inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Ten finals will take place on the track for both boys and girls in all four classes starting at 9 a.m.

Here are a few things to watch on what should be an exciting Saturday for Your Prep Sports area teams.

City High Closing In

City High has won 11 state titles, third most in state history.

However, it’s been nearly two decades since the Little Hawks sat atop the state track and field world.

That could chance on Saturday as City High chases its first team title since 2004.

City High leads the 4A field after two days with 43.5 points followed by Linn-Mar with 32 and West Des Moines Dowling with 29.

Defending champion Cedar Falls is fourth with 22.

The 4A race should come down to the wire but City High has plenty of firepower left in the holster for Saturday.

Distance ace Ford Washburn will try to add to his title count in the 1,600, the Little Hawks are top-five seeds in the sprint medley and 4×400 relays.

Junior Matt Schaeckenbach is in the 110 hurdle finals and Truman Thompson and Ammon Smith are both more than capable of scoring in the 800.

The top challenger is Dowling who has its own studs coming up on Saturday with distance standout Jackson Heidesch in the 800 and 1,600 and Mikey McClain in the 100, 200 and 4×100.

Solon Chases Gold

After a runner-up finish last season Solon has had its sights set on a 3A state title for the last 360 odd days.

The Spartans can claim that long awaited crown with a strong finish on Saturday.

Solon enters Saturday leading the Class 3A standings with 48 points, 12 more than ADM and 22 in front of Carlisle.

Carlisle and Western Dubuque have standouts in Ainsley Erzen and Audrey Biermann that will rack up points on Saturday but the 3A title should be a two-team race between Solon and ADM.

The Spartans enter in the drivers seat.

Solon will be favored in the 4×400 and can double score in the 800 with senior stalwarts Emma Bock and Kaia Holtkamp.

The events to watch for the Spartans are the sprint medley, shuttle hurdle and 4×100 relays.

Solon has the third fastest time in the sprint medley this season.

The Spartans posted the sixth fastest qualifying time in the shuttle hurdle on Thursday and third fastest 4×100 prelim time on Friday.

ADM will need to make hay in the sprints where it has two entries in the 100, a top-four qualifier in the 200 and the fastest qualifying time in the 4×100.

Weather Watch

As is often the case at the state track and field meet its worth watching the weather on Saturday.

Thursday was hot with temperatures nearing 90 but Saturday the high is forecasted around 55 with a 40 percent chance of rain.

If you are coming out bring your coat, rain gear and sunscreen.

It’s all part of the state meet experience.

Big Finish for Wedemeyer

It has already been an impressive state meet debut for City High freshman Ani Wedemeyer.

Wedemeyer has posted top-three finishes on each of the first two days of the state meet placing third in the 4A 400 and anchoring the City High distance medley team to a runner-up finish.

On Saturday Wedemeyer will aim for a strong finish.

She has the second fastest time in Class 4A this season in the 800 at 2:12.16 and will anchor the City High 4×400 relay team that clocked the fastest time in Friday’s prelims at 3:57.5.

Harrison in the Hurdles

Clear Creek Amana senior standout Harrison Rosenberg has a pair of chances at hurdle gold on Saturday.

Rosenberg was third in the 3A 110 hurdles last season and clocked the fourth fastest qualifying time on Friday at 14.69.

He will also anchor the Clear Creek Amana shuttle hurdle squad that has the second fastest time from qualifying at 1:00.34.

Will Liberty High Get Its Champ?

Last season Liberty High got its first relay champion winning the 4×800.

On Saturday the Lightning will try to add an individual champion.

Junior Eric Lucas is the top candidate to claim gold for Liberty High entering the finals of the 110 hurdles with the top prelim time at 14.43.

Lucas was third at the Drake Relays last month and has the top qualifying time by .29.

Final Laps for Keeney

Liberty High senior standout Ashlyn Keeney will take her final laps around the blue oval inside Drake Stadium on Saturday.

A four-time state champion Keeney will add a final chapter to what has been an outstanding prep career with a couple more state titles on Saturday.

Keeney is the defending 4A champion in both the 800 and 1,500 and has top-four times in both events this season.

The Iowa State recruit ranks second in the 1,500 this season with a time of 4:43.31 and has the fourth fastest time in the 1,500 this season at 2:15.06.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.