What to Watch on Friday at the State Track and Field Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
DES MOINES – One day of the 2026 state track and field meet is in the books.
Day two of the three-day meet on Friday features three finals on the track and marks the end of the field event competition for the week.
Here are a few things to watch on Friday with Your Prep Sports area teams and athletes.
Maeve Bowen-Burt 400 hurdles
In her last appearance at Drake Stadium Bowen-Burt was claiming a Drake Relays title in the 400 hurdles last month.
The City High sophomore will attempt to add a state title in the event on Friday.
Bowen-Burt enters with the second fastest time in 4A this season at 1:02.01.
Waukee junior Jana Maharry owns the top time in the 4A field at 1:00.47.
Haack and Braun Look to Add to Medal Count
It was a stellar start to the week for the City High senior throwing tandem of Rachel Haack and Hannah Braun.
Braun won the 4A discus on Thursday while Haack finished third to earn a discus medal for the third consecutive season.
The duo will look to add to their hardware count on Friday in the 4A shot put.
Haack finished fourth in the shot put last season and enters with the second-best mark in 4A this season at 45-9 ¼ trailing only Ottumwa senior Delilah Subsin who has the top mark in 4A at 47-10.
Braun has the 13th best mark in 4A this season at 39-1 ½.
Barnett Chasing Shot Put Gold
A year ago James Barnett finished third in the Class 4A shotput as a freshman as teammate Colin Whitters won the 4A title.
This season Barnett enters as one of the favorites in the 4A competition as West High seeks a second consecutive shot put crown.
Barnett owns the top mark in 4A this season at 59-3 while defending champion Whitters enters with the ninth best throw in 4A this season at 55-3 ¾.
City High senior Raphael Etuma expects to be in the mix in a strong 4A shot put field and enters with the fourth best throw this season at 57-1 ¼.
Hamann Makes 2026 Debut
West Branch standout Grace Hamann will make her debut at the 2026 meet on Friday anchoring the Bears’ distance medley relay team that enters with the top time in 2A from qualifying meets.
Hamann joins Rena Holmes, Addi Schultes and Lexi Skay on the medley relay team that ran the second fastest time in 2A this season at 4:13.34 at the state qualifier at Tipton last week.
A four-event qualifier Hamann will run the 1,500 and 800 on Saturday and was part of the Bears’ qualifying 4×400 relay team.
Regina Boys Sprint Relays
Friday expects to be a big day for the Regina sprint relays.
The Regal 4×200 squad of Philip Swen, Gabriel Hegelheimer, Hudson Koch and Edwin Gangba will be chasing a spot on the medal stand on Friday afternoon.
The Regina 4×200 team enters with the fifth fastest time in 2A this season at 1:29.56.
Regina will also be seeking to earn a spot in Saturday’s 4×100 finals.
The Regal 4×100 team of Swen, Hegelheimer, Gangba and Gabe Schuessler has the fifth fastest time in 2A at 43.01.
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