Sigourney High School will be in the spotlight Thursday as local athletes compete on the oval and in the field at the 2024 Class 1A State Track Qualifier meet. Eight schools from the KCII listening area will be among those in action.
The Hillcrest Academy Ravens last competed a week ago at the Southeast Iowa Superconference Championship meet at WACO where the girls were third in the north with 84 points, led by Rya Scott’s four event titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. On the boys side, the Ravens were eighth with 21 points. Owen Scott was runner-up in long jump. Owen Scott was a state qualifier a season ago in long jump finishing 11th in 1A.
The Highland boys and girls also competed at least week’s Superconference meet where the Highland girls were fifth in the north with 64 points. The 4×100 with Alexa Hahn, Hailey Brun, Lilly Barre and Grace Prybil were second. For the boys, they scored nine points to finish ninth in the north, led by a sixth place finish for the 4×100 with Elvin Hernandez, Brixton Rust, Jackson Schneider and Cayden Day. The Huskies sent five events to state last year, all on the girls side with Sarah Burton winning a state title in the long jump and advancing to the 100m finals.
The Lone Tree boys and girls were at WACO for the conference meet last week. The Lady Lions were fourth in the north with 68 points and won championships in the 4×100 and 4×200 with Addison McCullough, Rylee Shield, Vivian Zaruba and Ava Christofferson and also took the sprint medley with Cate Sexton Vivian Zaruba, Christofferson and Shield. The boys were seventh in the north with 39.5 points led by a 4×200 runner-up finish from Emmett Burke, Domonic Garcia, Ethan Bockelman and Pietro Setti. The Lions sent eight events to state a season ago, seven on the girls side, led by fourth place for the 4×200 of Shield, Vivian Zaruba, Christofferson and Avery Morarie. The boys lone event, the 4×200 with Burke, Bockelman, Tyce Alt and Drew Gauley was 21st.
The Columbus boys and girls were at the Superconference Championships last week. The Wildcat boys won their second consecutive conference team crown with 186 points. The ‘Cats won six event championships including Kaden Amigon in the 100 and 200, Lamar Ceant in the 110 hurdles, Russel Coil in shot put and discus and the Wildcat 4×100 team with Juan Chairez, Riley Kaalberg, Ceant and Amigon. The Columbus girls were sixth in the team race with 60 points and got second place showings from Kymila Bacon in the 200 and Isabella Forbes in shot put. Last year, the ‘Cats sent a dozen events to State in Des Moines, all on the boys side, en route to a Class 1A runner-up team finish. Triston Miller was the 1A 110 hurdle champion.
For Winfield-Mt. Union last week at the Superconference meet, the boys were third in the north with 120 points, winning seven event championships including Ty Scorpil in the open 400 and 400 hurdles, Kohlby Newsom in the 800, Jake Edwards in high jump, Cam Buffington in long jump, the sprint medley team of Kael Johnson, Eli Miller, Abram Edwards and Gabriel Hemsworth and the distance medley with Lane Genkinger, Edwards, Jaxton Jones and Newsom. The Lady Wolves were ninth in the north with 51 points including titles in the 100 hurdles with Josie Nelson, 400 hurdles with Tessa Huston and in the high jump with Quin Smith. Last season, the Wolves sent a total of 11 events to state, nine on the boys side led by a boys 1A championship for Buffington in long jump and a 19th place finish for Keetyn Townsley in the 100 hurdles for the girls.
On their home track at the conference championships last week, the WACO Warriors were fifth in the boys standings with 67.5 points with four second place performances to highlight the night including Louden Huisenga in high jump, the 4×100 with Hayden Shelman, Isaac Rich, Gage Samo and Clayton Miller, the shuttle hurdle with Huisenga, Samo, Casey Coakley and Miller and Chase Waterhouse in discus. For the girls, they were seventh with 58 points and grabbed a conference title in the shuttle hurdle with Ally Rinner, Brenna Graber Madelyn Farmer and Zoey Dennler. Last year, the Warriors sent seven events to state, all on the boys side with the top finish third for Oleh Shtefanchuk in discus.
The Keota boys and girls were at the South Iowa Cedar League Championship meet last week at Iowa Valley. The Eagle boys and girls were both 11th in their team races. The Keota girls shuttle hurdle had the top finish on the night in third place, Ayden Galindo was fourth in boys high jump.
The Sigourney boys and girls were also at Iowa Valley last week where the boys and girls each finished in seventh in their respective team races. Reagan Clarahan was conference runner-up in the 400 hurdles to lead the Savage girls, top finish for the Savage boys was Caden Clarahan third in shot put. The Sigourney girls sent two events to state a year ago, with the top finish 16th for McKinley Chittick in high jump.
These teams will be joined by Danville, Montezuma, New London, North Mahaska, Pekin, and Wapello. All event champions Thursday automatically qualify for the State Championships next week in Des Moines, plus the next 14 best performances from around the state in 1A. Action starts at 4p.m. and continues into the evening at Sigourney High School.