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 700th 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.