What to Watch on Day Two of the State Track and Field Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
DES MOINES – The opening day of the state track and field meet is in the books.
Friday brings five more event finals in Classes 2A and 3A in the morning and 1A and 4A in the afternoon.
Field events wrap up on Friday and the team races start to take shape.
Here is a quick look at four things to watch on Friday at the state track and field meeting involving Your Prep Sports area athletes.
West High Boys Start Their Run
It was a solid if not spectacular start for West High on Thursday.
The Trojans weren’t expected to rack up huge points on the opening day and scored six which puts them in 11th place.
If West High is going to be in the trophy hunt late into Saturday the run needs to start on Friday.
The Trojans have two qualifiers in all three individual events and are top-eight seeds in both relays on Friday.
West High’s heavy hitters are up to bat on Friday.
Senior Aidan Jacobsen has the fastest time in the 400 hurdles this season (52.03) and has the sixth-best long jump mark in 4A this spring (22-5 ½).
Colin Whitters has the third best qualifying mark in the shot (55-6 ½) and teammate Kendall Woodson is 10th (50-4 ½).
The West High 4×200 of Todd Rent, Mason Woods, Julian Manson and Izaiah Loveless have the top time from state qualifying meets at 1:27.58 which is second in 4A this season.
West High’s distance medley relay team has the eighth-fastest time from qualifying meets but the Trojans have run the second fastest time in 4A this season at 3:27.83.
Look for a big day and a big jump in the 4A team standings from the Trojans.
Class 3A Boys Long Jump
The 3A boys long jump could be one of the most entertaining field event duels of the weekend and a pair of area competitors should be in the thick of the title chase.
Solon junior Caleb Bock soared to the front of the 3A long jump leaderboard last week with a leap of 22-6 ¾ at the state qualifying meet.
The jump from Bock is seventh best in the state this season.
Clear Creek Amana sophomore Aren Schlemme has been excellent all season and has the fourth best jump in 3A this spring at 22-1 and jumped 22-0 ½ at the state qualifier, the third best qualifying mark.
Toss in defending champion Josiah Cunnings of Charles City (22-5 ½) and Harlan senior Brehden Eggerss (22-3 ½) and their should be some excitement in the 3A long jump.
Regina Boys 4×200
Regina brought four relay teams to the state meet in a breakthrough season.
The first Regal relay to hit the Drake Stadium track may be the best opportunity for the Regals to climb the medal stand.
The foursome of Jackson Naeve, Edwing Gangba, Alex Jensen and Michael Martin is seeded sixth with a time of 1:31.63.
A strong showing for the Regal 4×200 could be a big boost heading into the 4×100 and 4×400 for Regina.
Grace Hamann Makes Her State Meet Debut
The West Branch girls got a fourth-place finish from junior Alyssa Pierce on Thursday and will look to keep the momentum going on the track on Friday.
Freshman Grace Hamann will make her state meet debut as the anchor of the Bears’ ninth-seeded (4:23.2) distance medley relay team.
Hamann is a top-eight seed in both the 800 and 1,500 on Saturday but will make her debut on Friday as he teams with Addi Schultes, Kennedy Simpson and Lexi Skay to try to add to the West Branch medal count.
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