Iowa state track and field meet 2024 team scores on day 2
HIGH SCHOOL

High school team scores after Day 2 of the Iowa state track and field meet 2024

Eli McKown
Des Moines Register

One day remains at the Iowa state track and field meet, leaving a lot to be decided, but some teams are inching closer to glory at Drake Stadium.

Ten of the 19 events held at the state track and field meet have concluded, leaving nine crucial events to go. Thus far in those 10 events, Ankeny and Dowling Catholic (4A), Pella (3A), Underwood (2A) and Wapsie Valley and Woodbine (1A) are in first place for the boys, On the girls side, Waukee Northwest (4A), Mount Vernon (3A), Van Meter (2A) and AGWSR (1A) lead the field.

Here is a class-by-class breakdown of how things are shaping up ahead of one more day of action:

Class 4A Boys: Ankeny and Dowling tied, big day ahead on Saturday

  1. Ankeny and Dowling Catholic - 52
  2. Cedar Falls - 37
  3. Iowa City West - 36

Outlook: The Hawks and Maroons outpaced the field here on day two, establishing them as favorites going into the final day.

However, Ankeny has eight events tomorrow where they are seeded in the top eight, a scoring position. Ethan Zuber (mile) and Logan Fairchild (200-meter) are each seeded No. 1 and are the favorites. That's compared to Dowling's five seeded in the top eight. Cedar Falls has six left in the top eight, with distance runner Jaden Merrick pacing that group as a favorite in the mile with Zuber. Iowa City has five in the top eight.

In short, this looks like Ankeny's race to lose based on sheer numbers, but Dowling and Cedar Falls are ones to watch contend with solid outings thus far.

Class 4A Girls: Waukee Northwest and Pleasant Valley to dual until last race, Johnston hangs in

  1. Waukee Northwest - 47
  2. Pleasant Valley - 43
  3. Johnston - 36

Outlook: We're set for a barnburner on Saturday night here.

Waukee Northwest has six top-eight seeded in the 100, 800, shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100, 4x400 and the sprint medley. However, right behind them is Pleasant Valley with seven of their own, including Ani Wedemeyer who is seeded outside the top-eight of the mile, but should finish at least in the top four and as high as second.

The last two events on Saturday are the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, both of which have Pleasant Valley, Waukee Northwest and a lurking Johnston team have teams in the field, it's setting up for a photo finish.

Class 3A Boys: Dutch in control of team title

  1. Pella - 35
  2. Western Dubuque - 28
  3. Solon - 27
  4. Center Point-Urbana - 26

Outlook: The Dutch look to be in firm control and have a chance to take the crown for the fourth consecutive season, leading the field by seven points. Senior Hanson King's state title in shot put on Friday, along with his third-place finish in discus Thursday, has given Pella a big boost. Canaan Dunham enters tomorrow's mile race as the No. 1 seed and could help seal the deal.

However, Western Dubuque's Quentin Nauman could help close the gap with another victory over Dunham, after he defeated him in the two-mile race on the final lap. Senior hurdler Ashton Hogrefe is also the Class leader in the 110 hurdles heading into the finals tomorrow. The Bobcats have a lot of ground to make up, but they have a lot of areas to do it.

Solon's 4x400 relay team should finish with some points, with Brett Mesch in the lineup as a top 400 runner who should also take a top eight spot. However, they, along with Center Point-Urbana, likely don't have the horses to stay with the top two. ADM, with Brevin Doll potentially taking multiple events tomorrow, could see a late surge too to first.

Class 3A Girls: Gilbert, ADM prepared to surge tomorrow

  1. Mount Vernon – 35
  2. Clear Lake - 31
  3. Gilbert - 29
  4. ADM - 28

Outlook: Mount Vernon has the lead at the moment, but except for the 800 relay, the Mustangs are not projected to finish in the top eight in any remaining events based on qualifying times. The same goes for second-placed Clear Lake.

That bodes well for a team like Gilbert with a pair of 1500 runners projected to finish in the top eight and a potential top-four team in the 4x400. Should the Tigers perform to their ability, they have a good chance to leap into first.

ADM should be alongside Gilbert, with members seeded in the top eight of the 100 hurdles, shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100 relay and the 4x400 relay. Sioux Center also has the top-two runners in the 800-meter dash leading what could be a furious comeback effort from sixth.

Class 2A Boys: Who's got what it takes?

  1. Underwood – 26
  2. South Hamilton, Mediapolis (tied) - 24
  3. Des Moines Christian - 21

Outlook: Who can squeeze the most out of its runners?

Except for Underwood's 4x400 relay team, they have no top-eight-seeded runners remaining. South Hamilton has the 4x400 relay team and the 800 sprint medley remaining in scoring position. Mediapolis has a pair of runners seeded in the top eight of the 800, including No. 1 Logan Rosas. Solomon Zaugg is seeded third in the mile as well. Des Moines Christians' Caleb Ten Pas is seeded near the top of the 800 and mile races, giving them some firepower to finish too.

Some standing watching of Sprit Lake in ninth with a host of hurdlers near the top of their heats will be required, but they've got a lot of points to make up for in one afternoon.

To summarize, there's not a ton left for any of the top teams, but whichever can get the most out of their runners Saturday could come out on top in this narrow race.

Class 2A Girls: Van Meter in front, Spirit Lake and Tipton lurk

  1. Van Meter – 34
  2. Spirit Lake - 32
  3. Tipton - 31

Outlook: You couldn't make this race much closer if you tried, and, they all got a lot of horses left.

Van Meter's Eden Moore, already the 400 hurdles champion, should finish near the top of the 100 and 200. They also have top-eight runner(s) in the 800, 1500, shuttle hurdle relay, 4x400 and 800 sprint medley. Spirit Lake has top-eight runners in the 200, 100 hurdles, the 4x100 and the 800 sprint medley.

Tipton has a pair of runners seeded in the top two of the 800, a top two runner in the 1500 and a top-eight relay team in the 4x400. Pella Christian has a loaded sprinter crew as well and could make a jump late.

Final day. Final races. Who's got the guts to do it?

Class 1A Boys: Lisbon has great shot at team title

  1. Woodbine and Wapsie Valley - 29
  2. Lisbon - 25

Outlook: We're down to a three-team race for the team trophy here, but it's third-placed Lisbon with the best shot.

Lisbon has seven events where they are seeded in top-eight seeded. Baylor Spiedel is seeded at No. 1 in the 100 and 200, with a pair of teammates right behind them seeded in the top four. Woodbine has No. 5 seed Landon Bendgen in the mile, but is done for the day after that. Wapsie Valley's Aiden Shannon is seeded No. 1 in the mile on Saturday and No. 6 in the 800. He's also backed by sophomore Aidan Brady in the mile, seeded at No. 2.

Watch for Lisbon and Wapsie Valley to battle for that team trophy tomorrow.

Class 1A Girls: Narrowest of margins separate contenders

  1. AGWSR - 24.5
  2. Riverside - 22
  3. St. Ansgar and St Albert - 21
  4. Pekin - 20
  5. Nashua Plainfield - 18

Outlook: AGWSR leads the way now, but it may not stay that way.

AGWSR only has their 4x400 relay team in a scoring position by making the finals. Its sprint medley, seeded 12th, could also sneak their way in. St. Ansgar, Riverside, Nashua (Kadence Huck in the 800 and 1500), Nashua-Plainfield and St. Albert all have a pair of runners seeded in the top eight of events remaining. Panorama's Jaidyn Sellers could spark a jump as well in her sprinting events, with her squad in seventh at 16 points.

Stating the obvious, whoever in this group can get the best performances out of what they have left is going to come away with it.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23