Members of the City High Men’s and Women’s track & field teams will be heading to the Drake Relays in Des Moines this Thursday. Both the Boys and Girls teams boast some of the best times in the state and will be looking to add to the long list of accomplishments the track programs at City High hold.

“There’s a lot of pressure in doing a big meet like Drake,” says Ammon Smith ‘23.

While stress may be common among runners in one of Iowa’s most selective high school track meets. Austin Rindels ‘23 feels good about City High’s chances.

“I know our coaches are confident in us,” Rindels said, “ We’ve dominated every meet we’ve gone to so there’s not really any pressure.”

While stress levels about running on a big stage may be different across the team, there is a common goal for the top-ranked boy’s team. This year the boy’s team’s main focus for the meet is relays.

“As a team, we want to win the relay cup,” Smith said, “Which is the most points out of the 4×400, 1600 Medley, 4×800, and the 4×100 relays.”

Iris Wedemeyer ‘23, who qualified for multiple relays at Drake, is also getting excited about the upcoming competition.

“I’m so excited to run at Drake and show off the work we’ve been putting in all season,” Wedemeyer said.

Qualified Events:

Boy’s Track

SP- Tae Shon McDaniels

DT- Tae Shon McDaniels

LJ- Ronnie Major

HJ- Matt Schaeckenbach

800- Ammon Smith

1600- Ford Washburn

3200- Ford Washburn, Truman Thompson

110 HH- Austin Rindels

400 LH- Jovan Harris, Matt Schackenbach

SHR- Matt Shackenbach, Austin Rinels, Ian Moore, Phillip Kaplan, Isaiah Svoboda, Isaac Washpun,

4×100- Sam Rew, Jovan Harris, Mike Rew, Ronnie Major, Mentgy Tan, Kaleb Turnbough

4×200- Sam Rew, Mike Rew, Isaiah Svoboda, Ronnie Major, Drew Larson, Gabe Orris

4×400- Matt Schaeckenback, Ammon Smith, Truman Thompson, Jovan Harris, Juma Amisi, Noah Carey

4×800- Ammon Smith, Truman Thompson, Patrick Sarsfield, Ford Washburn, Sam Schaefer, Ayuman Noreldaim

1600 Med- Sam Rew, Ronnie Major, Jovan Harris, Ammon Smith, Truman Thompson, Mike Rew

Girl’s Track

4×400- Iris Wedemeyer, Mia Deprenger, Sierra Pruessner, Ani Wedemeyer

SHR- Sierra Pruessner, Mia Deprenger , Martha, Te’Nia Ansley 

Sprint Medley Relay- Ani, Mia, Ruth, Claire

Distance Medley Relay-

4×800 

4×100

400- Ani Wedemeyer

800- Ani Wedemeyer

100 H- Sierra Pruessner