IOWA VS. NATIONAL
Iowa is like only a couple other states where few T&F/XC athletes/teams leave the borders of the state for competitions, and few athletes/teams from other states have the opportunity to compete within our borders. In most other states, at least the top athletes and teams consider instate invitationals and the State meet very important, but their most important meets are major out-of-state invitationals and “national HS championships” (e.g., Footlocker & Nike Cross in XC, Simplot & New Balance indoors, and Penn Relays, Arcadia, USATF Jr Champs, & New Balance outdoors). Very few Iowa T&F/XC athletes attend these each year, and perhaps suffer developmentally as a result, at least if interested in being competitive nationally.
The Drake Relays is one of the finest venues for HS T&F field in the U.S.; but perhaps the only “major” nationally to be limited to instate athletes and teams. That’s good news in that it can be considered the only true Iowa state meet, where athletes from all divisions compete together. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a meet like Drake that would allow HS athletes/teams from throughout the U.S. to go head-to-head in the same or similar venue and allow many Iowa athletes/teams to enjoy that national level competition without traveling to the east or west coasts. Some would argue that teams wouldn’t come from across the country to Iowa for a major meet. Well, they come by the thousands annually from California, New York, Texas, etc. for the Simplot Indoor Games in Pocatello, Idaho!!!! Remember “Build it, and they’ll come”.
IOWATFXC.COM covers track & field and cross country within the state, and Iowa athletes/teams traveling out-of-state for meets when we are aware. If you’re interested in T&F/XC coverage nationally, go to https://usa.milesplit.com or just milesplit.com . I’ve recently become one of the two editors for MileSplit national; so I’ll represent Iowa well to “national” and I’ll point national articles of interest to you in IOWATFXC.COM. Of possible interest to you going into the T&F season is the names and level of athletes at the top nationally. I’m doing a series of articles on milesplit.com titled People To Watch, listing approximately the top five in each event broken down by event groups (sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps, throws) and gender. Go to https://www.milesplit.com/articles/80851-people-to-watch-girls-sprints-2012, https://www.milesplit.com/articles/80944-people-to-watch-boys-throws-2012, and https://www.milesplit.com/articles/81151-people-to-watch-girls-jumps-2012 for those already published, and then check back regularly with milesplit.com for additions.
Sorry, no one included from Iowa; but freshman Rebekah Topham, distance, Griswold is close. These athletes didn’t get there by thinking and competing only within their state. Hopefully, we can get us in Iowa to think and compete, and host at least one major meet annually, nationally.
