IOWA STATE MEET

Mikey McClain Fastest Ever In Iowa In 100 And 200 Meters; Jack Latham Runs 110 Hurdles Record

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

There was no shortage of drama Saturday at Drake Stadium at the Iowa State High School Track and Field Championships.

Standout distance runner Jackson Heidesch had a memorable meet. He was initially disqualified after a collision in the 800, finishing in last place. After review, Iowa High School Athletic Association announced, “as a result of ruled interference" Heidesch was allowed a re-run at the end of the meet. After winning the 1,600 meters in 4:07.30, Heidesch returned to the track shortly after to place third (1:54.62) in the 800 and helped secure Dowling Catholic's first state title with 93 points. 

Along with Heisesch’s performance, teammate Mikey McClain made history running the all-time fastest 100 (10.33) and 200 (20.97) in state history. He was also part of the winning 4x100 (41.76), which ranks No 5 in state history. 

McClain's 100-meter time surpassed Adam Haluska's 2002 all-time best of 10.34c. His 200-meter performance took down an all-time best shared by legends Tom Jennings of Marshalltown (1955) and Tim Dwight of Iowa City (1994), 21.04c. 

In the field, Walker Whalen of Indianola set a state meet record in the discus, throwing a US#4 mark of 204-9 (62.40m). 

Abu Sama of Southeast Polk won the long jump in a 4A meet record 24-2.75 (7.38m). 

Waukee Northwest prevailed as 4A girls state champions with 70 points after Waukee won last year. Mackenzie Carney set the state meet record in the 100 hurdles by clocking 14.10, in addition to winning the 400 hurdles.

Sioux City West’s Holly Duax collected an impressive four golds (long jump, 100, 200, 4x100), posting marks of 11.67, 23.95, 18-6.50 (5.65m) and 48.31.

West Des Moines Valley sophomore Addison Dorenkamp won the 1,500 and 3,000, running 4:36.60 and 9:55.89.

Dowling Catholic produced an all-time state mark in the girls 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay, clocking 1:00.44, eclipsing the record of 1:00.61 set by Waukee in 2017. 

3A

Western Dubuque High senior Audrey Biermann made sure she left her mark at the 3A meet. Biermann won four golds, claiming the 100 (12.20), 200 in a 3A meet-record time of 24.42 and 400 (54.56), another meet record. Biermann was also part of the winning sprint medley relay (1:45.58) for a third meet record. 

Carlisle’s Ainsley Erzen defended her 1,500 title, winning in a meet-record time of 4:36.96. Erzen also won the 800 (2:10.07). Her teammate Isabelle Noring surpassed the 3A championship record in the long jump with a leap of 18-8.75 (5.70m).

Jadan Brumbaugh of Mt Pleasant won the shot put in a state meet record throw of 47-5.50 (14.46m), and also won the discus in a personal-best mark of 151-10 (46.27m).  

The Solon girls won the team title with 84 points. Solon dominated in the relay events, scoring in all seven events. 

The Drake Relays most outstanding performer, Aidan Ramsey, showed off his talents this weekend as he guided Dallas Center-Grimes to a state 3A crown. Ramsey won the 800 (1:54.36), 1,600 (4:15.24), 3,200 (9:22.64) and was part of a meet record 1,600 sprint medley (3:27.49). 

In the sprints, Alex Mota of Marion, who is committed to Iowa for football, set a 3A state meet record in the 100 (10.71). 

In the 4x110 shuttle hurdles relay, Pella broke the meet record with 59.45. 

Sophomore Iowa Falls-Alden sophomore Jaden Damiano won the 110 and 400 hurdles. 

2A

The Mid-Prairie girls won the program’s fourth-straight title with 65 points. Individually, Van Meter’s Clare Kelly won the 1,500 (4:39.13), claiming the first ever girls individual gold for the school. Kelly also finished second in the 800. 

Jaidyn Sellers of Panorama set a 2A state meet record in the 100, running 12.13 and won the 200 in 25.04. 

Jack Latham led Spirit Lake to a 2A team championship as he smashed an all-time state record in 110 hurdles in the prelims, clocking 13.74, a current US#18 time. He won the event in the finals in a time of 13.81. He also won the 100 (10.61) and was part of the first-place shuttle hurdle relay (1:00.50).

Latham broke a 1977 state record held by Randy Elliott of Charles City (13.84c), along with the FAT record of 13.85 established by Riley Moss of Ankeny Centennial in 2018.

University of Iowa commit Carson Houg of Des Moines Christian won the 800 (1:56.75), 3,200 (9:36.90) and was second in the 1,600 (4:20.78). Houg also was the anchor on the winning 1,600 sprint medley (3:32.98). 

1A

Turkey Valley’s Jalyssa Blazek made history at the state meet as she became the first athlete from her school to win titles in the 800 (2:15.83) and 1,500 (4:46.63). 

In the field, Audi Crooks of Bishop Garrigan set a 1A record in the shot put with a throw of 45-1 (13.74m). She also won the discus at 131-5 (40.05m). 

The Nashua-Plainfield girls claimed the team championship with 59 points. 

The New London boys edged out Earlham 68-66 points to win the title.

Earlham did achieve the 1,600 sprint medley relay championship record by clocking 3:31.48, breaking the 1994 mark of 3:32.40 established by West Marshall. Jayden Dickson prevailed in four events for Earlham, taking the 800 (1:55.64), along with the 4x400, 4x800 and sprint medley. 

On the track, Tripoli’s Liam Carlson set a state record in the 100 (10.82) and was second in the 200 (22.09). 

In the distance events, Saint Ansgar’s Riley Witt won the 3,200 (9:38.95) and 1,600 (4:21.08). He was second in the 800.

Madrid clocked 48.72 in the prelims of the girls 4x100 relay, lowering its own championship mark of 49.57 from last year. The Tigers secured the title by running 49.12 in the final.

Madrid also broke the 2004 meet record in the 4x200 relay by running 1:43.29.

Lawton-Bronson triumphed in the boys 800 sprint medley relay in 1:33.15, improving on the mark of 1:33.57 from Wapsie Valley last year.

Team Champions 

Class 4A: Dowling Catholic boys 93 points; Waukee Northwest girls 70 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Dallas Center-Grimes boys 73 points; Solon girls 84 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Spirit Lake boys 92.5 points; Mid-Prairie girls 65 points - RESULTS    

Class 1A: New London boys 68 points; Nashua-Plainfield girls 59 points - RESULTS