What to Watch on Thursday at The Opening Day of The State Track and Field Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The opening day for the 2026 state track and field meet is right around the corner.
Action gets rolling in and around the blue oval at Drake Stadium in Des Moines with the first of three days of the state track and field meet.
Once again the Your Prep Sports area will feature some of the top individual performers and teams in the state this season.
Before the gun sounds for the first race on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. here is a look at five things to watch on day one.
Decker’s Opening Act
This week figures to be a big breakthrough for Liberty High junior Keegan Decker who has continued to establish himself as one of the state’s top distance runners.
Decker broke through with his first state meet medal a year ago, finishing fifth in the Class 4A 1,600.
Coming off a herculean effort at the state qualifying meet last Thursday Decker expects to add to that count in a big way this week.
Decker won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the 4A state qualifier last week and will hit the blue oval for the first time on Thursday morning in the 4A 3,200.
Decker owns the fastest qualifying time from last week at 19:19.26 and also has the fastest time in 4A this spring at 8:59/49.
Haack Looks to Add to Medal Count
City High senior Rachel Haack has made a habit of breaking the school record in the discus this season.
Haack will look to add to her own school record one final time on Thursday.
A Colorado State recruit, Haack broke her school record for the discus most recently at the state qualifying meet last Thursday with a toss of 150-9, the second-best throw in Class 4A this season.
The only person to throw further than Haack this year is her top competitor on Thursday, Ottumwa senior Delilah Subsin who owns the top throw in the state this year at 154-10.
Haack is seeking the best state finish of her career after placing fourth in both the shot put and discus last spring.
Another Boys Discus Showdown
The 4A state qualifier last week at City High produced two of the top three qualifying marks from City High senior Raph Etuma and Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Christ Kelly Nelson.
Those two along with West High senior Collin Whitters and City High junior Preston Mensah will battle a tight 4A discus field again on Thursday with a state title on the line.
Etuma enters with the best throw from qualifying meets at 171-6 while Kelly Nelson had the third best throw from last Thursday at 164-6.
Last year’s runner-up in the discus, Whitters had the 14th best throw at the qualifying meet at 155-11.
Whitters has thrown 172-5 ½ this season, ninth furthest in 4A and Etuma, who finished seventh in the discus last season, has gone 171-6 which is the 10th best throw in 4A.
Solon’s Svalstad Makes State Debut
Solon freshman standout Mac Svalstad will make his much-anticipated state meet debut on Thursday in a strong field in the 3A 400.
Svalstad has the third fastest time in 3A this season in the 400 at 49.07 trailing only Clear Lake senior Kolby Hodnefield (47.77) and Pella senior Harrison Mullens (48.34)
A Drake Relays qualifier in the 400, Svalstad finished 12th in 49.62 at Drake last month.
Keep an eye on Clear Creek A 10th fastest time in 3A this season and the second fastest time from last week’s state qualifiers at 48.92.
Plenty of Your Prep Sports Competitors in 4A Boys High Jump
Better than 20 percent of the 4A high jump field comes from the Your Prep Sports area with five area qualifiers competing in the field of 24.
Liberty High Victor Nakihinga is seeking a medal for the second consecutive season after placing sixth a year ago and enters with the seventh highest mark in 4A this season clearing 6-4 ½.
City High and West High each have a pair of qualifiers.
Adams Kane and Abe Bidanis qualified for City High and Mason Middleton and Carter Spark will compete for West High.
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