Des Moines, IA- Drake Stadium, the Blue Oval, the mecca of Track and Field in the state of Iowa. The 2025 State Track and Field meet set a record for attendance with over 40,000 tickets sold. With that many eyes on the competitors, adrenaline took over, leading to records falling and championships being earned.

Since the final day of the three-day event combines all four classes together, as opposed to splitting them like the first two days, we will break it down by event.

Sprint Medley Relays

The Danville girls’ team entered today with a chance to gather some points, and the sprint medley team of Macie Wagner, Violette Sowell, Delaney Newberry, and Alaina Gourley set the tone with a 7^th place time of 1 minute and 51 seconds, a season best time. This gave the Bears two points.

In the girls’ Class 3A section, Mt. Pleasant collected a time of 1 minute and 55 seconds, finishing in 24^th place.

Over in the boy’s Class 1A sprint medley relay, Van Buren County’s squad of Bryce Moquin, Kayden Simmons, Izaak Loeffler, and Lincoln Bainbridge turned in a 6^th place time of 1 minute and 35.3 seconds, granting the Warriors three points.

Amazingly, a difference of just five-tenths of a second can knock you back three spots and out of a scoring position. Danville claimed 9^th place with a time of 1 minute and 35.8 seconds.

Fairfield finished in 22^nd place in Class 3A’s race with a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds, while Keokuk did not finish.

800-Meter Run

Despite just anchoring the sprint medley relay for the Bears, Gourley finished in 5^th place with a time of 2 minutes and 16 seconds in the girls’ Class 1A field. In just two events, Danville had accrued six points.

In the girls’ Class 3A section, Mara Smith of Fort Madison finished close to the middle of the pack with a time of 2 minutes and 22 seconds, good enough for 15^th place.

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kohlby Newsom had only the 5^th fastest 400-meter split of the boys’ Class 1A field. Then he was shot out of a cannon on the second lap, turning in a split of 56.2 seconds, which was faster than his first lap, to win the state championship with a final time of 1 minute and 53 seconds. The personal best time gave the Wolves ten points.

Just Dykstra of WACO was next in line for our local competitors, snatching 11^th place with a time of 1 minute and 58 seconds. Danville’s Nick Powell took home 15^th place with a mark of 1 minute and 59 seconds.

Class 3A’s heat featured a record-breaking performance by Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman as the Oregon commit sprinted to an All-Time State Record time of 1 minute and 49 seconds. He is the only Iowa prep runner to break the 1 minute and 50 second barrier as his time ranks 7^th in the nation. Nauman then found another gear in the 1600-meter race later in the day and broke the 4-minute barrier with a time of 3 minutes and 59 seconds. No one in the nation, nevertheless a junior, had been able to do both in the same meet let alone the same day.

Fairfield’s Gabe Tejada was able to keep pace with the four leaders but could not make a move as he stayed in 4^th place with a time of 1 minute and 53 seconds for a personal record. This finished added five points to the Trojans’ total.

Tyler Alderton of Washington gathered one point for the Demons with an 8^th place time of 1 minute and 57 seconds, also a personal record. Lastly, Fort Madison’s Nolan Guzman took home 19^th place with a time of 1 minute and 58 seconds.

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

Columbus, who is making a run in the boys’ Class 1A standings, added eight points to their total after snatching 2^nd place with a season-best time of 1 minute and 0.25 seconds with the team of Riley Kaalberg, Johnathan Miranda, Alexander Rees, and Lamar Ceant. The Wildcats sat at nine team points after this event.

100-Meter Dash

There’s something to be said about consistency, success will usually follow. Mt. Pleasant’s Alex Scott finished with the exact same time that she did in girls’ Class 3A qualifying at 12.42 seconds, which barely snuck her into the top eight. This time it earned 6^th place and three points for the Panthers.

In the boys’ Class 1A field, London Franklin of New London improved upon his personal record time in qualifying, clocking 11.08 seconds, but could not improve his position. The Tiger snatched 5^th place and four points for his team.

What is turning into a bit of a southeast Iowa rivalry in the boys’ Class 3A division, Keokuk’s Ryan Bair and West Burlington/Notre Dame’s Landry Habericther were placed right next to each other in lanes seven and six, respectively, and much like the last three races it was neck-and-neck.

Competitors would like to always shine in the biggest of moments and Bair and Haberichter did just that with personal record times. Bair would get the better of the Falcon with a silver medal time of 10.69 seconds, while Haberichter snatched the bronze with a mark of 10.7 seconds—one-hundredth of a second difference.

110-Meter Hurdles

Columbus’ impressive tandem of Alexander Rees and Lamar Ceant both qualified for the boys Class 1A 110-meter hurdles after Rees upset Ceant at the state qualifier but Ceant upended Rees in the prelims with times of 14.77 seconds and 14.86 seconds, respectively.

Ceant got off to a slow start, but a strong middle section had him contending for the state championship. Until he lost his timing on the penultimate hurdle, leading to a kick that the Spartans would be proud of. Incredibly, he kept his balance and lunged for the finish line, taking the silver medal with a personal record time of 14.2 seconds.

As the only sophomore in the race, Ceant will most likely be a favorite to snatch the title next year.

Rees, one of two juniors, had the fastest time amongst the juniors as he grabbed 4^th place with a time of 14.42 seconds. This duo injected a quick 13 points to the Wildcats total, putting them at 22 at the time of this race’s finish.

200-Meter Dash

It did not go quite to plan for Ceant and Rees in the boys’ Class 1A field, as the duo finished 7^th and 8^th place, respectively. Ceant turned in a time of 22.88 seconds, followed by Rees with a mark of 23.03 seconds. This tandem had contributed 24 points to the Wildcats total after scoring this event.

Ryan Bair has been his own one-man wrecking crew for Keokuk as he snatched another silver medal for the meet, this time in the Class 3A 200-meter dash with a time of 21.59 seconds, the 7^th best time in the state of Iowa. He has been responsible for all 18 of his team’s points.

Girls 1500-Meter Run

In the Class 3A field, a trio of runners got to perform from the Southeast Conference and Fort Madison’s Avery Rump continued her excellent weekend, moving up eight spots from her qualifying slot with a season best time of 4 minutes and 54 seconds, which was good enough for 22^nd place.

Her teammate, Jordyn Marshall, collected a 24^th place time of 5 minutes and 19 seconds. Iris Dahl of Washington clocked a time of 5 minutes and 2 seconds to take home 22^nd place.

Boys 1600-Meter Run

A quartet of Southeast Iowa Super Conference competitors lined up for the Class 1A mile-run and all four accrued personal best times. Newsom (Winfield-Mt. Union) nearly added another point to his team’s total but finished just outside the top eight in 9^th place with a mark of 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

WACO’s Jude Dykstra followed right behind with a time of 4 minutes and 30 seconds to take home 10^th place. Ty Muniz of Columbus collected a time of 4 minutes and 34 seconds to finish in 16^th place, while New London’s Riley Raines claimed a time of 4 minutes and 37 seconds for 21^st place.

Over in Class 2A, Simon Wendel turned in a 19^th place time of 4 minutes and 37 seconds for Mediapolis.

4×100 Meter Relay

Mt. Pleasant was our lone team to look out for in the girls’ Class 3A division and the team of Kynlee Whie, Alex Scott, Taylor Williamson, and Kiyah Sanders finished in 6^th place with a time of 49.11 seconds, gathering three more points towards their team total.

In the boys’ Class 1A division, New London had the pressure on after finishing 1^st in the prelims. The same team of Cale Westerbeck, Gavin Strawhacker, Brigham Porter, and London Franklin had already taken 2^nd place in the 4×200 meter relay.

Now, the Tigers have a state championship after claiming a faster time than they clocked in the prelims of 42.5 seconds, their season best time. That victory added ten points to their team’s total.

Columbus finished in 4^th place with a time of 43.53 seconds with the team of Juan Chairez, Rees, Ceant, and Kaalberg. This added five points to their total.

4×400 Meter Relay

The Danville girls’ team scored seven points in one day after adding one more in the girls’ Class 1A 4×400 meter relay with an 8^th place time of 4 minutes and 14 seconds.

Van Buren County took home 5^th place with a time of 3 minutes and 26 seconds in the boys’ Class 1A finals, earning the Warriors four more points to their total.

Boys Para Wheelchair

Washington’s Josh Anderson competed in the Para Wheelchair division and his best finish was in the 200-meter with a time of 35.6 seconds, which earned him the bronze. He also took 4^th place in the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter races.

Brandon Klein of Fort Madison collected the silver medal in the Wheelchair shot put with a heave of 18 feet and 2.75 inches. He finished in 5^th place in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. Klein also took 6^th in the 400-meter.

Scoring

*Italics indicates State Team Champion

Boys Class 1A: Lisbon (54), ACGC (44), South Hamilton (35), T-5^th Place Columbus and New London (30), 17^th Place Winfield-Mt. Union (15), T-18^th Place Van Buren County (14), T-41^st Place WACO (4), T-44^th Place Wapello (3), T-47^th Place Danville (2)

Girls Class 1A: St. Albert (46), St. Ansgar (40), St. Edmond and Nashua-Plainfield (36), 24^th Place Danville (12), T-48^th Place Winfield-Mt. Union (2), T-52^nd Place WACO (1)

Boys Class 2A: Spirit Lake and Okoboji (65), Okoboji (55), Treynor and Denver (48)

Girls Class 2A: Pella Christian (80), Van Meter (60), Tipton (54)

Boys Class 3A: Newton (60), Pella (56), Clear Creek Amana (55), 11^th Place Fairfield (27), T-14^th Place Keokuk (18), T-17^th Place Washington (13), 23^rd Place Fort Madison (10.5), T-29^th Place West Burlington/Notre Dame (6)

Girls Class 3A: ADM (67), Mt. Vernon and Gilbert (58), T-20^th Place Fort Madison (12), T-26^th Place Mt. Pleasant (7), 36^th Place Washington (3)

Boys Class 4A: Ankeny (100), Cedar Falls (78), Dowling Catholic (66.5)

Girls Class 4A: Waukee Northwest (101.5), Pleasant Valley (68.5), Cedar Falls (56), T-15^th Place Burlington (18)

Boys Para: Siouxland Christian (40), Shenandoah (38), Alburnett (32), 8^th Place Washington (21), 9^th Place Fort Madison (19)

Girls Para: Iowa City West and Dubuque Hempstead (40), West Liberty (32)

That will do it for KILJ’s coverage of the 2025 State Track and Field Championships, we would like to thank all of our sponsors for allowing us to cover the state meet and thank you all for tuning in. KILJ will be back next year for the 2026 State Track and Field Championships!

High School Track

Day two of the 2025 State Track and Field Championships is in the books and one of our local teams could be eyeing a surge towards the team championship. Here’s some of the highlights from day two’s events.

Starting with the girls’ Class 3A field events, Mt. Pleasant’s Ella Ensminger and Brylie Lorence of Fort Madison were looking to earn some points for their teams in the shot put and did just that. Ensminger earned 8th place and one point for the Panthers with a heave of 38 feet and 9 inches. 

Lorence nearly had the championship in her grasp after uncorking a throw of 44 feet and 8.25 inches; unfortunately, Charlee Morton of Hampton-Dumont-CAL unleashed a state record heave of 47 feet and 6.25 inches to grab the championship. Lorence still took home eight points for the Bloodhounds and the silver medal for her effort.

For the boys’ Class 3A long jump, Dayton Lamar of Fort Madison and Fairfield’s Eli Zillman claimed 6th and 7th place, respectively, after Lamar eclipsed the Trojan’s mark of 21 feet and 9.5 inches with a leap of 21 feet and 10.75 inches in the finals. 

Lastly, in the boys’ shot put for Class 3A, Washington’s Greyson Hartman is responsible for 11 of the team’s 12 points after taking 4th place with heave of 55 feet and 4.75 inches.

In the 400-meter hurdles, the Southeast Conference champion, Leighton Messinger of Washington, turned in her personal best time of 1 minute and 6 seconds to grab 6th place and three points for the Demons.

Mt. Pleasant’s squad of Kynlee White, Alex Scott, Taylor Williamson, and Kiyah Sanders will generate some points for the Panthers after qualifying for the 4×100 meter relay finals with a 6th place time of 49.09 seconds. The race is scheduled for 3:33 pm today.

In the distance medley relay, Fort Madison’s squad of Dylan Adam, Ethan Bisgard, Ousman Saine, and Gabe Tejada claimed 3rd place with a time of 3 minutes and 28 seconds, adding six points to the Trojans’ total. Fairfield sits in 8th place with 22 points, just eight off the leader, Epworth.

In the boys’ Class 1A field events, WACO’s Louden Huisenga matched his personal best in the high jump and cleared 6 feet and 1 inch to finish in 6th place, earning three points for the Warriors. 

In the boys’ Class 1A 110-meter hurdles prelims, Columbus sent both Lamar Ceant and Alexander Rees to the finals after Ceant clocked the 2nd fastest time of 14.77 seconds, while Rees finished in 5th place with a time of 14.86 seconds.

New London started their championship surge with a silver medal performance in the boys’ 4×200 meter relay with the team of Cale Westerbeck, Gavin Strawhacker, Brigham Porter, and London Franklin sprinting to a time of 1 minute and 29 seconds. The Tigers furthered their case when the same quartet raced to the fastest time in the 4×100 meter relay prelims, clocking a time of 42.82 seconds. Columbus also qualified with a season best time of 43.29 seconds, which ranked 3rd.

New London currently sits in 5th place with 16 team points, 11 points off 1st place Lisbon. 

Van Buren County will run in the finals of the 4×400 meter relay after claiming 6th place in the prelims with a time of 3 minutes and 26 seconds.

Lastly, our lone state champion through the first two days, Kylee Hill of Burlington retained her shot put title with a heave of 45 feet and 11.75 inches. The sophomore has secured all 18 of the Grayhounds’ points.

Stay tuned to KILJ for live updates and recaps as the 2025 State Track and Field Meet finishes up today. 

High School Tennis

Fairfield’s Rumin Luo earned the #3-seed in the boys’ Class 1A State Singles Tournament. His first round matchup will be against Ethan Valtman of Newton on Tuesday, May 27th. 

High School Golf

The girls’ Class 1A state meet will be held at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown with New London’s Emma Busby and Wapello’s Emmalin Marshall making the trip, starting on Thursday, May 29th, and concluding on Friday, May 30th.

The boys’ Class 1A state golf meet will take place at South Hills Golf Course in Waterloo on Tuesday, May 27th, and Wednesday, May 28th.

Central Lee will contend for the boys’ Class 2A state championship starting Tuesday at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.

Washington’s Drew Conrad will tee off on Tuesday at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls for the boys’ Class 3A state meet.

High School Soccer

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team fell to Clear Creek Amana 3-0 last night in the first round of the Class 2A Region 4 bracket. 

On the bottom half of the bracket, Fort Madison handled Keokuk 10-0 to advance to the semifinals. The Bloodhounds will square off against Burlington on the road on Wednesday, May 28th, at 7 pm.

In the boys’ Class 1A Substate 5 bracket, Danville will take on (14-1) West Liberty on Tuesday, May 27th, at 7 pm in a road showdown.

The Central Lee boys team will travel to Mediapolis on Tuesday at 7 pm.

In the boys’ Class 2A Substate 5 bracket, #6 Burlington Notre Dame will take on Assumption on Tuesday at 7 pm at home.

It will be a Southeast Conference battle in the boys’ Class 2A Substate 6 semifinals as Mt. Pleasant will get to host Fairfield on Tuesday at 5 pm. 

In the girls’ Class 1A Region 3 bracket, Assumption will take on Washington on Wednesday, May 28th, at 7 pm.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will get to host Mid-Prairie on Wednesday at 7 pm.

High School Baseball

Wapello’s woes continued last night in a 16-0 loss to Wilton. Wapello will look to right the ship against Hillcrest Academy on Thursday, May 29th, at 5:30 pm on the road. 

West Burlington continued their offensive pace in last night’s 7-5 win over Louisa-Muscatine. Garret Bence led the offense with three RBIs. The Falcons will travel to Winfield-Mt. Union on Tuesday, May 27th, at 5:30 pm.

Mt. Pleasant is back on the road on Tuesday against Clear Creek Amana for first pitch at 7 pm.

Fairfield will travel to Moravia on Tuesday at 5:30 pm. 

Mediapolis will face off against New London on the road at 5:30 pm on Tuesday.

Van Buren County will face off against Mt. Pleasant on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:30 pm at home.

Central Lee will compete against Fairfield on Wednesday at 7:30 pm on the road.

Southeastern Community College

The baseball team earned the #7-seed for the NJCAA DII World Series and will be taking on the Great Lakes District Champion in #10 Kellogg Community College today at 10 am. 

This Day in Sports History

1935 – The first night game in major league baseball history was played at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, where the home team defeated the Phillies, 2-1.

1981 – Indianapolis 500: Bobby Unser crosses the finish line ahead of Mario Andretti; Unser was disqualified for pit lane infraction, but later has his win reinstated for his 3rd career victory.

1992 – Indianapolis 500: Al Unser Jr. holds off Scott Goodyear to win by 0.043 seconds; Unser Jr. becomes the first second-generation driver to win the race along with this being the closest finish in Indy history.