Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It all comes down to championship Saturday.

After five event finals on each of the first two days of the three-day state track and field meet there are nine state championships up for grabs on Saturday as well as team titles to be claimed in all four classes.

The focus is all on the blue oval inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines with all the action on the track.

Here are five things to watch featuring Your Prep Sports area teams on Saturday as the prep track and field season comes to a close.

City High Chases Team Title

A year ago City High was in the thick of the 4A team race until late on Saturday when West Des Moines Dowling pulled away for the team title.

Defending 4A runner-up City High is once again in contention entering Saturday and this time the Little Hawks will look to finish the job.

Johnston leads a crowded top of the 4A team standings with 47 points after 10 events, while Linn-Mar is second with 45 points and City High is within striking distance with 41.

The Little Hawks are loaded with scoring opportunities on Saturday highlighted by distance ace Ford Washburn in the 1,600 and middle-distance standouts Ammon Smith and Truman Thompson in the 800.

City High has Matt Schaeckenbach and Austin Rindels in the finals of the 110 hurdles and qualified for the finals of the 4×400 relay.

It will take a big Saturday effort but the Little Hawks are going to be in the mix.

Solon Seeking Back-to-Back Titles in 3A

Defending 3A state champion Solon pulled in front of last year’s runner-up ADM in the 3A team standings late on Friday.

The Spartans will look to close out a second consecutive championship on Saturday and will need to hold off ADM again to do it.

Solon enters Saturday with 43 points, nine in front of second-place ADM.

The Spartans will once again rely on their relays (sprint medley, shuttle hurdle and 4×100 are all top-eight seeds heading into Saturday) to close the deal.

Aly Stahle has a top-three qualifying time in the 200 and Gracie Federspiel has the fastest time in 3A in the 800 this season at 2:15.95.

The Close to An Incredible Career

It’s been said on this site before but if Ford Washburn is running he is always one to watch.

The City High senior will conclude what has been an incredible prep career on Saturday with four more laps around the Drake Stadium track.

Washburn’s final race will be one more showdown with West Des Moines Dowling standout Jackson Heideesch.

Two of the best distance runners in state history the two dueled at the Elite Mile at the Drake Relays last month with Heidesch finishing in front of Washburn.

The final prep 1,600 for both should be an instant classic.

More Shuttle Hurdle Magic for Clear Creek Amana

Clear Creek Amana is quickly becoming a staple in the finals of the shuttle hurdle relay.

The Clippers have won the last two Class 3A shuttle hurdle relay titles and have won three of the past seven 3A titles in the event.

Expect the Clippers to be in the mix again on Saturday.

Clear Creek Amana has the fourth fastest time from prelims with freshmen Jaylin Herring, Sydney Pfeiffer and Averie Lower joining standout senior Silvana Kabolo to run 1:07.01 in the prelims.

That same foursome has the third fastest time in 3A this season at 1:06.94.

West High’s Strong Close

After not scoring a team point on Thursday West High won a pair of relays and racked up 28 points on a strong second day.

Look for more of the same from the Trojans on Saturday as they attempt to move up from their spot at fifth in the 4A team standings.

West High senior Izaiah Loveless has the second fastest prelim time in the 200 at 12.64 and is part of the Trojan 4×100 team that ran the fastest prelim time at 42.11.

Loveless, Todd Rent and Christian Janis helped West High win the 4×200 in the second fastest time in state history and will join Daniel Robinson on the Trojan 4×100 squad.

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