District Track Preview: 2A-8 Treynor
Note: This is the final part of our three-part series on area teams competing at district track. You can also see our Mount Ayr and West Harrison previews.
We close out our district track previews with a look at the field in Class 2A District 8. This meet will feature both Red Oak and Southwest Valley as they try to get to state.
Red Oak and Southwest Valley will have to contend with the likes of Shenandoah, Clarinda, Treyor, Missouri Valley, Panorama, Woodward Academy and AHSTW.
Both teams have solid contenders who could be going to state. One legit contender for Red Oak will be Kate Walker. Last year, Walker qualified for state in the 400-meter dash and the 1,500 and that was her first season with the program.
This year, Walker has been just as solid for the Tigers, scoring numerous wins in the process, including a conference title in the 800-meter run last week.
Walker has the top time in the district in the 800 (2:22.74), the second best time in the 1,500 (5:11.99, hand time conversion) behind Alexis Cook of Missouri Valley, and the third best time in the field for the 400-meter dash (1:01.21).
There's no shortage of possibilities for Walker. She could also be significant for the Tigers in the distance medley. Walker, along with Hannah Vial, Nikki Graber and Juhi Boeye, have the top time in the distance medley field for districts when they ran 4:22.82 (hand time conversion) at the conference meet last week. With this group, it's possible they get that relay win at districts.
For the boys team, Logan LeRette is a legitimate contender. LeRette's been the go-to for the 1,600 this season, winning multiple times including the conference title last week.
LeRette has the second best time in the district for the 1,600 (4:43.21 hand time conversion). LeRette also has a chance in the 3,200 and the distance medley, which he runs the anchor leg.
The distance medley team, which has had different parts to it throughout the year, ran its best time with LeRette, Hayden VanMeter, Brock Isaacson and Rob Vial at the Clarinda meet last month. Their 3:52.54 is the fourth best time in the field.
In the field events, both Red Oak and Southwest Valley have contenders in the high jump. Gabe Nelson of Red Oak, as well as Scott Vanderhoof and Colten Drake of Southwest Valley, both have a shot at qualifying for state. All three have jumped 6', which places them tied for third in the field. They'll all have to contend with Gabe Richey of Panorama, who jumped 6'4" at Guthrie Center Monday.
Nelson has a chance to be the first state qualifier in the high jump for Red Oak since Andy Vial in 2012. Last year, Drake was a state qualifier for Southwest Valley. Vanderhoof has been the primary go-to jumper for the Timberwolves this season, winning multiple times.
The Timberwolves have an additional contender in hurdler Tony Klocke. The junior is second in the district for the 110-meter hurdles with 15.46 (hand time conversion). Drake is sixth on the district list with 15.93 (hand time conversion) at Bedford last week.
Klocke, Drake, Vanderhoof and Trevor Sorensen also have a shot in the shuttle hurdles. They're third in the district field with a 1:01.30 at Griswold. They'll have to contend with both Panorama and Missouri Valley.
The Southwest Valley girls track team has a couple contenders, including the shuttle hurdle team. The group, which features Desirae Archer, Payton Thomas, Shana Saunders and Elizabeth Herzberg, is fifth in the field with 1:15.89 (hand time conversion) at the POI meet.
Herzberg is also a contender in the 400-meter hurdles. The junior is ninth in the district field with 1:13.73.
The meet is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Treynor High School.