Author: Nathan Bloechl

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Des Moines — The 2021 State Track and Field Championships begin today in Des Moines and coverage will begin at 9:00 a.m. on KILJ-FM and kilj.com.

Here’s what today’s schedule looks like:

9:00 a.m. — Girls’ Shuttle Hurdle Relay Prelims: Karsyn Lamm, Kenna Lamm, Josie Gilmore, Jenna Gilmore (Mount Pleasant)

• That quartet will run in Saturday’s finals after placing 7th in prelims with a time of 1:09.13.

9:25 a.m. — Girls’ Discus: Grace Kelley (Mount Pleasant)

• Grace Kelly is a medalist! The Panther senior throws 124-06 good for 7th place in her first state track appearance. 

9:45 a.m. — Boys’ Long Jump: Anthony Isley (Mediapolis), Thomas Eschman (Central Lee)

• Isley fouled on all three of his jumps, he will not place at the 2021 meet. Eschman goes 20 feet, 3/4 inches for his best leap of the morning, he fouled on his third and final jump. Eschman finishes 16th. 

9:45 a.m. — 3000m Run: Abby Blint (Mount Pleasant)

• Abby Blint finished 22nd with a time of 11:42.44. She will not medal. Shewaye Johnson of Ballard was the meet winner running 9:57.21. She missed the state record by two seconds. 

10:10 a.m. —3200m Run: Solomon Zaugg (Mediapolis)

• Zaugg, just a freshman, finished 14th in the Class 2A 3200m run. He ran 10:22.61.

10:55 a.m. — Boys’ 200m Dash: Chance Hocker (Central Lee)

• Hocker runs 23.82 good for 22nd. 

2:15 p.m. — Boys’ Shuttle Hurdle Relay Prelims: Jack Johnson, Morgan Van Nyhuis, Bryce Wilson, Will Davidson (Mount Pleasant)

• The quartet of Johnson, Van Nyhuis, Davidson and Wilson run 1:05.00. They finish 20th overall and fourth in their heat. 

Class 1A

3:30 p.m. — Girls’ Shot: Jobey Malone (Winfield-Mount Union)

• Malone throws 36 feet, 5 1/2 inches on her best toss of the day. She finishes 11th overall. 

3:45 p.m. — Boys’ Long Jump: Cam Buffington (Winfield-Mount Union)

• Buffington jumps 19 feet, 5 and 3/4 inches to finish fourth in flight one.

4:15 p.m. — 3000m Run: Addison Parrott (Danville)

• Parrott earns a medal after finishing as runner up in the 3000m run. Parrott runs 10:33.21, losing out narrowly to Peyton Poe-gee who ran 10:32.91.

4:40 p.m. — 3200m Run: Seth Bailey (New London)

• New London junior Seth Bailey finishes 10th in the 1A boys’ 3200m  run with a time of 10:13.64. 

5:30 p.m. — 200m Dash Prelims: Josh Catala (New London)

• Catala finishes 12th overall running the 12th fastest time in prelims at 23.26. He will not qualify for finals. 

5:55 p.m. — Girls 4x800m Relay: Cassidy Yaley, Jaeda Molle, Rylee Morris, Kamryn Sherwood (Danville)

The Danville quartet runs 10:55.72 good for 22nd. 

6:15 p.m. — Boys’ Shot: Carter Allen (New London)

• Carter Allen with a toss 50 feet, 8 3/4 inches places fourth earning a medal as well. Allen was the fifth seed 

6:35 p.m. — Girls’ Long Jump: Kenna Furnald (Danville)

• Furnald, a freshman, goes 15 feet, 6 1/4 inches for fifth. She’ll earn a medal in her first ever trip to the State Meet. 

6:45 p.m. — Boys’ 4x800m Relay: Mason Chipman, Gabriel Gourley, Oliver Sowell, Ty Carr (Danville)

• Danville’s 4×800 team goes 8:09.01 for second place, finishing as runner-up to Earlham’s group who ran 8:04.37

7:55 p.m. — Girls’ 400m Dash: Aliyah Christensen (New London)

• Aliyah Christensen goes 1:06.20 to finish 22nd.

8:45 p.m. — Girls Shuttle Hurdle Prelims: Eden Svoboda, Chloe Horn, Alexis Dietsch, Allison Dowd (Danville)

• Danville’s quartet runs 1:15.53. They finish 22nd. 

8:45 p.m. — Girls Shuttle Hurdle Prelims: Keetyn Townsley, Kayreanna Sharar, Morgan Grelk, Kyndal Townsley (Winfield-Mount Union)

• That group ran 1:14.51 good enough for 16th place. 

Follow along here or on KILJ-FM.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Prep Track: State Track Begins Today at Blue Oval:

After a one year hiatus, the Iowa High School State Track and Field Championships return to the Blue Oval in Des Moines.

Day one kicks off today with events getting underway at 9:00 a.m.

The open also comes on the heels of the both of the Boys’ Association and Girls’ Union’s joint announcement of capacity restrictions being lifted.

Coverage on KILJ-FM will begin shortly after the 9:00 a.m. this morning.

Here’s a look a the first session which will feature 2A and 3A competitors:

• 9:00 a.m. — Girls’ Shuttle Hurdle Relay Prelims: Karsyn Lamm, Kenna Lamm, Josie Gilmore, Jenna Gilmore (Mount Pleasant)
• 9:25 a.m. — Girls’ Discus: Grace Kelley (Mount Pleasant)
• 9:45 a.m. — Boys’ Long Jump: Anthony Isley (Mediapolis)
• 9:45 a.m. — 3000m Run: Abby Blint (Mount Pleasant)
• 10:10 a.m. —3200m Run: Solomon Zhug (Mediapolis)
• 2:15 p.m. — Boys’ Shuttle Hurdle Relay Prelims: Jack Johnson, Morgan Van Nyhuis, Bryce Wilson, Will Davidson

Class 1A competition will begin this afternoon at 3:30 p.m with girls’ shotput, which will feature Winfield-Mount Union’s Jobey Malone.

Be sure to stay tuned to FM 105.5, kilj.com and KILJ’s Facebook page for all the latest from the Blue Oval.

Boys’ Golf: Mount Pleasant to Compete in Districts Today:

The Mount Pleasant boys’ golf team will be back in action this morning competing in the district golf meet, hosted by Burlington Notre Dame at Flint Hills Golf Course.

The Panthers qualified for districts after finishing as a runner-up at last week’s sectional meet at Washington.

Other teams at today’s district will include Monticello, Vinton-Shellsburg, Maquoketa and Solon.

Roman Roth of Washington was the meet medalist at last week’ sectional scoring a 76.

Golf today will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Girls’ Soccer: Mount Pleasant Hooks Up with Mediapolis:

Looking to snap a two-match losing streak, the Mount Pleasant girls’ soccer team will travel to Mediapolis for a non-conference fixture against the Bullettes this afternoon.

The Panthers are coming off a shutout loss — their first of the season — on Monday against Notre Dame.

Prior to that, they fell to Washington 4-3.

This will be their final scrap before opening postseason action on May 28th at East Lake Park against Notre Dame.

Kick is slated for 4:30 p.m. today.

Boys’ Soccer: Mount Pleasant Sets Sail with Clippers Today:

The Mount Pleasant boys’ soccer team will look to play spoiler tonight when they travel to the Amana Colonies to battle with the Clippers of Clear Creek-Amana in the first round of the Class 2A, Substate 5 playoffs.

Mount Pleasant, the #6 seed, enters tournament play with a record of 2-12, while the Clippers are 11-4.

The winner will get either second-seeded Fort Madison or Keokuk.

Tonight’s game will start at 6:30 p.m.

Women’s College Basketball: Fennelly Agrees to Extension:

Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly has agreed to a two-year contract extension keeping him on the Cyclone sidelines until at least 2027.

The veteran head coach recently concluded his 26th season at Iowa State with another NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament appearance, his 19th with the Cyclones.

Fennelly’s 2020-21 team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament led by Cheryl Miller Award winner Ashley Joens.

He also reached another coaching milestone in January with his 700^th career victory at Kansas State, 540 of which he’s won in Ames.

Iowa State returns Joens among several others to this year’s bunch, who are once again expected to make a run for the top of the Big 12 race.

 

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant — Three Mount Pleasant Panthers are heading to Pella.

Yesterday Jack Johnson, Chase Williamson and Karsyn Lamm all signed their letters of intent to play collegiate sports at Central College, the latest in the line of Panther standouts to take their talents to Pella.

Two years ago, Sam Beatty made the move to Central and one year ago former Mount Pleasant quarterback Brody Bender did the same.

Now, he’ll get two new shiny toys — and former teammates — in Johnson and Williamson at his disposal in an uptempo Central offense.

Johnson, the do-it-all piece for the Panthers over his four-year career, is anticipating a move to wide receiver at the next level.

“I think the first year, I’ll work as a slot receiver but their coach told me to keep an open mind. Wherever they want to put me, I’ll go. That’s kind of just how I’ve always done it.”

Meanwhile, the role is much more distinct for Chase Williamson.

An all-district wide receiver and safety for Mount Pleasant this year, Williamson will play wideout for the Dutch in their flying aerial attack.

“It will be a lot of fun, we are talking to a lot of guys going to Central — making friends with them. It will be a lot of fun and a lot of competition. 

Williamson led Mount Pleasant’s air game with 558 yards on 31 catches and two scores this fall.

Meanwhile, Karsyn Lamm will be running track and field at the next level, competing for a team that is in the American Rivers Conference title scene year in and year out.

Lamm, who has been coached by her father Scott, always had the dream of competing at the next level.

“I started track at a really young age, my brother was big in track growing up. So I started early and it drove my love for it and having him as my coach the last couple of years has been great also you know, being able to run with my sister. Definitely wanted to continue some of my track memories.”

Lamm said Central’s coaches have reached out to here about being a multi performer, either the heptathlon or decathlon — though neither are set in stone.

The senior will also compete in several events at this weekend’s state track and field meet in Des Moines.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Des Moines — Attendance limitations have been removed for this week’s Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships following updated public health guidance and coordination with Drake University and Polk County Health Department.

The three-day IHSAA and IGHSAU meet at Drake Stadium will be open to all interested spectators, cancelling capacity and seating restrictions announced May 4.

Masks are strongly encouraged of all spectators at this event, especially in common areas such as concourses, concession stand lines, and restrooms.  Per CDC guidance, unvaccinated people should continue taking safety precautions before and while attending gatherings, such as wearing masks.

A mobile vaccination clinic will be located in the Drake Stadium concourse all three days of the meet. The Pfizer vaccine will be administered by members of Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Polk County Health Department. Anyone age 12 or older wishing to receive a vaccination will be able to do so.

The meet schedule will remain as previously planned, with six sessions taking place over three days, May 20-22. Drake Stadium will not be cleared between sessions.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

KILJ — KILJ has announced our summer sports broadcast schedule with 12 games spanning over the two summer months of baseball and softball.

The schedule is as follows.

All games can be heard on FM 105.5 and online at kilj.com.

• Wednesday, May 26^th — Mount Pleasant baseball at Clear Creek-Amana (7:00 p.m.)
• Friday, May 28^th – New London baseball vs. Central Lee (7:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 3^rd — Mount Pleasant baseball at Keokuk (5:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, June 9^th — Mount Pleasant softball at New London (7:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 10^th — Mount Pleasant baseball vs. Burlington (5:30 p.m.)
• Monday, June 14^th — Winfield softball vs. Louisa-Muscatine (7:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, June 16^th — New London softball vs. Winfield-Mount Union (7:00 p.m.)
• Tuesday, June 22^nd — New London baseball vs. Don Bosco at Norway Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame (7:00 p.m.)
• Friday, June 25^th — Winfield softball vs. Van Buren County (7:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday, June 23^rd — Mount Pleasant softball vs. New London (7:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 1^st — Mount Pleasant softball vs. Fort Madison (5:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 8^th — Mount Pleasant baseball vs. Knoxville (5:30 p.m.)

As per usual, KILJ will have a vast tournament trail schedule in mid-July, as well.

(via Iowa Athletics)

Iowa City — University of Iowa women’s basketball freshman Caitlin Clark was one of nine athletes named to the 2021 USA Women’s U19 World Cup Team, the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Selection Committee announced Sunday.

Clark is the only Big Ten student-athlete to make the team.

The West Des Moines, Iowa, native is the only athlete to return from the 2019 USA U19 team that won the gold medal in Japan.

The 12-person roster will compete at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup against Italy on Aug. 7 in Hungary, followed by Australia on Aug. 8 and close against Egypt on Aug. 10.

Times will be announced by FIBA at a later date.