Predicting Iowa State HS T&F Girls’ Team Champions & Placings
4A
This will be fun. Sprint quality vs. sprint depth vs. add MD points vs. great individual vs. balanced team. Erin Hawkins, arguably the best sprinter in the state, is the sprint quality who will lead a good supporting cast from Des Moines Roosevelt vs. the sprint depth of Iowa City West for the title. But Dowling Catholic (big distance points from freshman Karissa Schweizer), Bettendorf (strong long sprinters led by Mahnee Watts and Megan Nickles), Sioux City East (up to 40 points from Shelby Houlihan alone), and WDM Valley (event balance + possible wins from thrower Valerie Veiock) could surprise.
Predictions:
1. Iowa City West
2. Des Moines Roosevelt
3. Dowling Catholic
4. Bettendorf
5. Sioux City East
6. WDM Valley
7. Iowa City High
8. Davenport Central
9. SE Polk
10. Cedar Rapids Washington
11. Davenport North
12. Burlington
13. Des Moines North
14. Indianola
15. Urbandale
16. Cedar Falls
3A
Dubuque Wahlert, with it strength across individual and relay events, should dominate. Mt Vernon-Lisbon (long sprints), Solon (balance across events), Waverly-Shell Rock (Rachel Perth, sprints & hurdles), and Davenport Assumption (sprint relays) will vie for second.
Predictions:
1. Dubuque Wahlert
2. Mt Vernon-Lisbon
3. Solon
4. Waverly-Shell Rock
5. Davenport Assumption
6. Decorah
7. Pella
8. Dallas Center – Grimes
9. Harlan
10. Bishop Heelan
11. Benton Community
12. Clear Lake
13. Williamsburg
14. Fairfield
15. Fort Madison
16. Anamosa
2A
Hudson, with quality and depth in the sprints and relays, with go up against the big two, Alex Gochenhour and Karen Hutson (sprints, hurdles, LJ), of Logan Magnolia for the title. Western Christian (Brooke Wolterstorff & sprint relays), Cascade (long relays), West Fork (Taylor Twedt, HJ & hurdles), and Sibley-Ocheydan (Leah Seivert, distance) will contest third.
1. Hudson
2. Logan-Magnolia
3. Western Christian (Hull)
4. Cascade
5. West Fork
6. Sibley-Ocheydan
7. Beckman (Dyersville)
8. Columbus (Columbus Jct.)
9. Sumner-Fredericksburg
10. Gilbert
11. New Hampton
12. Northeast (Goose Lake)
13. North Fayette
14. Jesup
15. IKM-Manning
16. North Linn
1A
Griswold, with long sprinters/hurdlers Lauren Moore & Rachel Northrup, should have too much for a long list of contenders with good individuals but not the depth of the Tigers. Belle Plaine (Emily Toennies, Dani Coover), Treynor (Chaley Rath), Manson-NW Webster (sprint relays), Ventura (Andrea Toppin), Woodward-Granger (Haley Manning), Villisca (sprint relays), Grundy Center (long relays), and Central-Elkader (SHR) will be close.
1. Griswold
2. Belle Plaine
3. Treynor
4. Manson-NW Webster
5. Ventura
6. Woodward Granger
7. Villisca
8. Grundy Center
9. Central (Elkater)
10. Central City
11. West Hancock
12. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn
13. Saint Ansgar
14. Central Lyon
15. Danville
16. Gehlen Catholic