By Bob Bakken
MaxPreps.com
Track and Field: Jorgensen Hopes to Three-Peat at Drake
Jennifer Jorgensen’s name is already in the books as a returning champion at the Drake Relays. This weekend, the Southeast Webster-Grand senior hopes to shatter the record book.
Jorgensen can become the first three-time winner of the girls’ long jump Friday morning at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. She has the best qualifying jump of 18-7, but Iowa City West’s Jessica Gehrke turned in an 18-9 after qualifying, so Jorgensen knows the challenges will be there.
“There is some pressure, because you’re going up against the best entire state,” Jorgensen told the Fort Dodge Messenger. “Even as the defending champion, you can’t come in and expect to win — especially when there are some girls that have already jumped longer than you.’’
She’s also known for her basketball talents, having been recruited to play basketball next year for the University of the Pacific.
Track: Drake Relays Schedule Void of Shuttle Relay
When the Drake Relays are run in Des Moines track this weekend, the boys’ shuttle relay will not be among the races contested.
Iowa last year became the second state in the nation to include the boys’ shuttle hurdle relay among its high school track and field events. However, that won’t translate into a new event at the Drake Relays this year.
Organizers of the Drake Relays, considered one of the country’s top annual track and field competitions, have not added a high school boys’ event in 30 years, when the 400-meter hurdles were included in the schedule of events.
Relays director Brian Brown believes the event may be added next year, but it won’t be added to this weekend’s agenda. He would like to see the quality to improve before it appears in the prestigious meet.
"I wasn't ready to add that," Brown told the Des Moines Register. "(Drake is) a championship event and some schools consider the race an exhibition."
Boys Soccer: Glenwood, Valley Top Rankings
Glenwood and West Des Moines Valley are the teams with the targets on their backs right now in Iowa boys soccer.
Glenwood leads the Class 1-A poll and Valley is the Class 2-A leader heading into this weekend’s action, according to the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The unbeaten Rams took over the No. 1 spot last week, unseating Cedar Rapids Xavier, which remains No. 2 among small schools. Defending state champion Norwalk is ranked third.
Once-beaten Valley is just ahead of unbeaten Ankeny in the Class 2-A rankings in taking over the top spot from Iowa City West, which fell to No. 3. Bettendorf and West Des Moines Dowling tied for fourth.
Girls Soccer: Few Changes in State Rankings
The status quo seems to work well for girls’ soccer in the Hawkeye State. The latest rankings from the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union show few changes from a week ago.
The Class 1-A rankings have the top seven teams holding the same positions as they had last week, led by top-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier. The remaining six in order include Norwalk, Sioux City Heelan, Waverly-Shell Rock, Dubuque Wahlert, Davenport Assumption and Nevada.
In Class 2-A, the state rankings are led by West Des Moines Valley, followed by Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Johnston and Sioux City North round out the top four teams in the poll.
Boys Basketball: Manderscheid Takes Over at Marion
Marion assistant basketball coach Mike Manderscheid has taken the head coaching reins at the Cedar Rapids-area high school.
The appointment is pending school board approval, but it’s a foregone conclusion the nine-year assistant to Indians’ coach Corby Laube will become the team’s next head coach. Laube is now the school’s activities director.
Manderscheid has been Marion’s head sophomore coach in addition to his varsity assistant duties.
He’ll have to keep recent success going for the Indians, who were WaMaC Conference winners the last three seasons, and came a game short of a state tournament berth this past season, losing to eventual Class 3-A titlist Dubuque Wahlert in the sub-state final.
Also Of Note…..
Mount Pleasant’s girls won the school’s 11th consecutive team title in the Class A portion of the Keosippi Relays in Keokuk.
