Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The track season concludes on Saturday with state champions crowned at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Saturday signals the final day of the three-day state meet with the attention turning to the blue oval inside Drake Stadium with 10 finals on the track in all four classes.

In addition to the individual and relay titles up for grabs on Saturday team titles with be decided for boys and girls in all four classes.

Before the starting gun sounds on Saturday morning to start the final session here is a look at what to watch for Your Prep Sports area teams.

Clippers in Class 3A Trophy Chase

Clear Creek Amana enters Saturday in the thick of a crowded trophy chase in Class 3A.

The top eight teams in the 3A standings are separated by eight points entering the final session with defending champion Western Dubuque leading the way with 30 points.

Clear Creek Amana is in a three-way tie for fifth along with Center Point-Urbana and Waverly-Shell Rock with 24 points.

Pella has 26 points, Newton 27 and Gilbert 28.

Newton, Pella and Western Dubuque appear to be the favorites to battle for the title on Saturday but Clear Creek Amana has firepower in sophomore Tay Seals and its relays to stay in the trophy hunt until the end.

West High Fighting in 4A Race

West High used a big day from its field events on Friday to fight its way into the 4A trophy race.

The Trojans trail 4A-leading Cedar Falls by six points entering Saturday’s final session after picking up 32 points on Friday.

It should be a dandy of a 4A title race on Saturday with Ankeny Centennial (22 points) and Ankeny (32) two of the top qualifies along with West Des Moines Dowling (38.5).

West High has an opportunity to add points on Saturday starting with defending 800 champion Moustafa Tiea.

The Trojan sprint medley relay team has the seventh fastest qualifying time and the West High shuttle hurdle relay team had the fifth fastest time in prelims.

State Breakthrough for Brandon Pedersen

West Branch junior Brandon Pedersen has already enjoyed a breakthrough track season.

The big breakthrough for Pedersen could come Saturday on the state’s biggest stage.

Pedersen will compete in three events on a busy Saturday running in the 2A 100 and 200 before anchoring the Bears’ 4×100 relay team

Pedersen has the fifth fastest prelim time in the 200 (22.21) and the sixth fastest prelim time in the 100 (11.01).

The West Branch 4×100 team of Cooper Gates, Keaton Gates, Connor Rios and Pedersen posted the fourth fastest prelim time in 2A at 43.21.

Naeve and Olivo Seek High Hurdle Medals

Regina junior Reese Naeve and West High senior Sophia Olivio will each be seeking to snag medals in the 100 high hurdles on Saturday.

Olivio is seeking her first career medal in the event after reaching the 4A finals with the sixth fastest prelim time at 14.93.

Defending 4A state champion Emma Havighurst of West Des Moines Valley has the top prelim time in 4A at 13.62.

Naeve is attempting to add to her career medal count after placing fourth in the 2A 100 hurdles last season.

Naeve enters the finals with the fifth fastest time from prelims at 15.31.

Busy Day For Grace Hamann

West Branch sophomore Grace Hamann just missed out on a medal on Friday finishing ninth in the Class 2A 400 hurdles and ninth in the distance medley relay.

Hamann will have two more opportunities to snag a medal on Saturday.

Hamann will compete in the 800 and 1,500 on Saturday and enters with top-10 times in Class 2A in both events this season.

Hamann has the fifth fastest time in the 800 this season at 2:20.02 and owns the ninth fastest time in the 1,500 at 4:58.01.

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