April 11, 2018 By Chris Varney
Every year, there are always some cancellations of outdoor track and field meets but this year has been ridiculous. All the coaches that I have talked to cannot remember a time when so many meets have been cancelled because of snow. Not rain, but snow! And sub-freezing temperatures. And yet teams must prepare for the home stretch of the track season as the IHSAA and IGHSAU announced the state qualifying assignments yesterday, which will be held Thursday, May 10.
In Class 3A, Benton, Grinnell and South Tama will all be going to Pella in District 7 along with Chariton, Clear Creek-Amana, Knoxville, Oskaloosa and the host Dutch. The toughest competition in this district could be on the female side. Benton has a strong girls team with Junior Grace Martensen leading the way. Martensen won the state title last year in the 100 hurdles, beating Grinnell’s Sienna Durr. Right now, Martensen has the 4th best time in the state while Durr has not had an outdoor meet this season. By the time May 10 rolls around, this should be an interesting race. The high jump will also be interesting — Junior Stacey Slaven of South Tama, Sophomore Kylee Neighbors of Grinnell and Junior Emily Holterhaus of Pella will be in the hunt for the two automatic spots into state and the other will have to make it as at-large bid.
Williamsburg moves from 3A to 2A this year and the Raiders will be going to Dike New Hartford in District 1 along with East Marshall and West Marshall. Other teams there will be Aplington-Parkersburg, Dyersville Beckman, Waterloo Columbus, Jesup, Monticello, Iowa City Regina, South Hardin, Union and the host school. It will be a long drive for the Raiders — over an hour and a half on the bus — but both teams will be motivated after neither Williamsburg team won a medal last year at state. The Mustang boys are poised to be strong — they won a meet last night in Baxter.
In Class 1A, 7 SICL teams will be headed to Brooklyn in District 2 (Belle Plaine, HLV, Iowa Valley, Lynnville Sully, Montezuma, North Mahaska and the host BGM Bears) but watch out for Collins-Maxwell and BCLUW who join the field along with Baxter, Colo-Nesco, GMG, Meswkaki and North Tama. The boys 100 meter dash will be an explosive race. Look at this field and their current rankings as of today in Class 1A: Troy Dolphin of BCLUW (2nd, 11.42); Jordon Bender of Montezuma (3rd, 11.47); Carter Fricke, Collins-Maxwell (6th, 11.56); Keegan James of BGM (7th at 11.57); and Joe Zuber of Iowa Valley (10th, 11.64). That is five of the current top 10 all in the same district! That race will be worth the price of admission. All 5 runners are strong in the 200 too so it will be double the price. Remember, in Class 1A, the winner is the only automatic qualifier to the state tournament and everybody else will be fighting for an at-large spot. In this case, the 100 meter District 2 race might be better than the 100 state finals.
For other 1A teams, English Valleys and Tri County are both going to District 9 in Wayland, WACO with Calamus-Wheatland, Cardinal Eldon, Danville, Highland Riverside, Iowa Mennonite, Keota, Lisbon, Lone Tree, New London, Sigourney, Winfield Mt. Union and the host school.
This is an early look at these meets but there is plenty of opportunity for other great races to materialize. The weather will finally clear up later this week and teams will finally hit the track, many teams adding meets trying to make up for the ones lost the last couple of weeks. Let the race to state (not to mention Drake Relays) begin!