March 29, 2024

Spring still lingers; summer coming on strong

The Pressbox

A week removed from the Iowa High School State Track and Field Championships, and there’s still lingering effects for me.

Sure, I’m tired, as any of us sports writers/photographers are at this time of the year. But one of the best aspects of working for a small community newspaper for me is I am able to experience the highs and the lows of the young athletes I cover.

A state track meet here in Iowa, or in my native state of Kansas, is a tremendous event to experience. You witness the accomplishments of high school athletes from the small to the large schools.

You take pride in how hard each one worked to qualify for the state meet and appreciate the winners and the ones who finish the race at the end. They finish what they started and never give up.

Our area saw three state champions crowned — Newton High’s seniors Sarah Kalkhoff in 4A discus and Deonne Harris in 4A 110-meter high hurdles and Prairie City-Monroe senior Rachel Peter in 2A 1,500-meter run. There were a couple of heartbreaking races on the final day of races for Collins-Maxwell/Baxter’s boys in the shuttle hurdle relay and in the 2A 110-meter high hurdles.

Replaying those races, the Raider foursome of Joey Nissen, Kyle Cather, Brady Stover and Bryce Kemp were so close. I was sure they had the title as Kemp flew past me with a couple hurdles to go, but it wasn’t to be. Kemp lost another photo finish in the high hurdle final. That was tough.

Then there was Peter’s impressive win in the 1,500. She paced herself and ran her race, taking the lead with a lap and a half remaining. No one came after her to challenge the lead and a championship was won.

Going into the state meet, we who covered Kalkhoff and Harris expected them to win from what they had done throughout the regular season. They did not disappoint.

I wasn’t disappointed in any of the performances by our area athletes from Newton, Lynnville-Sully, CMB, PCM or Colfax-Mingo. They were all competitive and that’s what we want to see from our young athletes.

Anyone attending the state track meet, witnessed impressive performances in the field events and on Drake University’s Blue Oval. Records were set on three tremendous days of track competition under great weather.

Spring sports are almost complete. We still have Newton, CMB and PCM girls competing in Class 2A soccer postseason, starting Friday. Newton awaits the winner of Friday’s CMB versus Urbandale soccer game. The Cardinals, who are ranked No. 10 in Class 2A, plays at home Tuesday.

Newton’s boys got knocked out of Class 2A substate action Thursday by Knoxville’s Panthers. Colfax-Mingo’s Jimmy Abell is competing in the Class 1A state golf tournament Friday and Saturday.

The Class 4A state girls’ golf tournament is Monday and Tuesday in Marshalltown. Newton’s Cardinals won their second straight 4A regional title Tuesday at home on Newton’s Westwood Golf Course. The Cardinals were third in the 2014 state tournament.

Rain has disrupted the beginning of the high school softball and baseball seasons in the area.

Newton’s softball team hasn’t opened the season yet, but is slated to be in Ames Friday to do so. The home opener for the Cardinal girls is now Monday against Urbandale. Newton’s baseball team won its season-opener Wednesday at home.

If weather cooperates, we’ll see a busy summer of prep baseball and softball.

Don’t forget there’s three more race weekends at Iowa Speedway this summer. June 19 the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series comes to the Speedway along with the USAC Silver Crown Series. In July, its an IndyCar feast on July 17-18 with the ARCA Racing Series joining the racing fun at the Speedway. The season ends July 31-Aug. 1 with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and K&N Pro Series returning.

Buckle up for a great summer run in 2015.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com