The Hawkeye State: Outdoor Season Preview

Boys Returner Rankings

Girls Returner Rankings

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Iowa, we're back!

We are just days away from the opening week of the outdoor track & field season in the Hawkeye State and there are a number of storylines to keep an eye on this spring.

As always, the spring seems to slip by before we even notice that it started. Here are some of the state's top performers just a couple of days into the outdoor season.

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Sprint Events - Athletes to Watch

Dawson Dougherty (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) - He is the top-ranked returner in the 100m dash and will be looking to capture his first state title after falling just short the last two years. With one season left, the New Balance qualifier will be one of the state's best sprinters in 2026. 

Kolby Hodnefield (South Hamilton) - The rising senior will be looking to defend his two state titles from a year ago against an increasingly quicker field of sprinters. He is the top-ranked returner in the 400m dash following a season where he ran under 49 seconds on four occasions and also won 4 of his 5 appearances in the 200m dash.

Caden Klein (Newton) - One of last season's most impressive performances in the 400m hurdles was still not enough to capture a state title. The top-ranked returner in the 400m hurdles ran a 51.96 en route to a 2nd-place finish at the state meet and will now have one last chance to bring home a championship.

Rachel Kacmarynski (Pella Christian) - The defending state champion in the 100m dash is the state's top returner in the event, after finishing the season with four consecutive wins and a personal best time of 11.92.

Kloe Nissen (Cedar Falls) -  After capturing a state title in the 400m dash last season, the rising junior enters the season as the state's top returning 200m dash runner. Her versatility will be an asset for a Cedar Falls team that always seems to be competitive. 

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Field Events - Athletes to Watch

Collin Whitters (Iowa City West) - Far and away the best returner discus thrower in the state won a state title in the shot put last season and has a real chance to complete the double in 2026. The rising senior threw 186-9 at the 4A Iowa State Qualifier and will be chasing the 200 barrier in his final season.

Greyson Hartman (Washington) - The top returning thrower in the shot put finished 8th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals last season despite finishing 4th at the state meet. The rising junior has qualified for the state meet in each of his first two seasons and this year will be chasing gold.

Delilah Subsin (Ottumwa) - Another overwhelming favorite to repeat and win another state title is the senior in the discus. She went unbeaten in the event last season and hasn't dropped a discus contest since May 18th, 2023.

Reese Wagner (North Polk) - The state's top returner in the high jump jumped a US #62 last season, clearing 5-8 at the state meet to win her first state championship. The rising junior will look to win another in 2026 and could even be another Iowa athlete eyeing to qualify for a national meet.

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Distance Events - Athletes to Watch

Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque) - One of the nation's top distance runners, he is coming off a cross country season where he went undefeated in Iowa and qualified for Nike Cross Nationals after a 4th place finish at NXR Heartland. His 2025 track season resulted in wins at the HOKA Festival of Miles, where he dipped under 4:00 in the mile, Nike Outdoor Nationals, and the Drake Relays.

Preston Johnson (Marshalltown) - The junior is coming off a strong fall season, which included a pair of sub-15-minute performances, and seemingly carried that momentum into the winter, running a 9:00.09 in the 3,200m in January. He will be a distance runner you will need to keep an eye on this spring.

Caleb Ten Pas (Des Moines Christian) - He is the 2nd-ranked returner in the 800m, which is a testament to how deep the event is in Iowa. This winter, the senior won the one-mile at the Milrose Games, running a 4:08, showcasing his range and presenting himself as another major distance threat in the Hawkeye State.

Lili Denton (St. Albert) - She is the top-ranked returner in the 3,000m, second in the 1,500m, and will be fresh off an undefeated cross country season that resulted in a state championship.

Charlee Gall (Cedar Falls) - The sophomore set a slew of personal bests on the indoor track this winter, most notably running a 4:48 in the one-mile en route to victory at the CYUP Misfits Invite in January, and will now be looking to defend the 1,500m title she won as a freshman last season.