DES MOINES — Saturday could wind up being one of the most special days in the history of Panorama girls track. Although nothing is assured, it was the strong results posted Friday that has put the Panthers well within striking range of their first team trophy, awarded to the top three finishing schools in each class.
Mid-Prairie lead girls Class 2A with 26 points and is unlikely to be caught thanks to the point-scoring potential of the standout Hostetler sisters. Sumner-Fredericksburg, sitting third at 22, has the potential to add considerably to their score, while current number two Unity Christian (25) appears to have few opportunities to add solidly to their total.
That leaves Panorama (fourth at 20), with KP-WC (19) and Tipton (18) as the only other teams likely to make a move, although the history of the state meet is replete with sudden charges on championship Saturday.
Lydia Knapp struck early for the Panthers in the first event of the afternoon session by placing fourth in the discus with a spin of 130 feet, two inches, only eight inches shy of second place. She had entered as the ninth seed and had placed seventh last year at 120’6. Tipton’s Jamie Kofron won the event at 140’5.
Morgan Johnk was fifth in the high jump at 5’2 last season and was the 11th-seed at the same height this year. The junior elevated her effort, to fourth place after clearing 5’5. Greene County’s Megan Durbin and Albia’s Hannah Isley were 2-3 at 5’5 as well, but finished ahead of Johnk on fewer missed attempts. Cori DeJong of Western Christian sailed over the bar at 5’7 to win the title.
The only two Panther boys to be in action Friday also competed in the same field events.
Dan Jensen avenged a disappointing 21st place showing in 2017 at 125’8 in the discus by claiming 10th place at 149’9, with Gracen Welberg placing in a tie for 15th overall in the high jump at 5’11.
Johnk seized the second-seed for today’s 100 hurdles by speeding across the line in 15.57. Heather Boeckenstadt of Dyersville Beckman is the top seed at 15.46. The finals are scheduled to run at 1:05 p.m.
Three relays were in action for the Panorama girls Friday, with the distance medley foursome of Bailey Beckman, Kassidy Bremer, Gwen Steffen and Devyn Kemble earning state medals by placing fifth in 4 minutes, 17.03 seconds. They had entered seeded fifth in 4:23.89 and held their place while dropping 6.86 seconds.
The Panther girls 4×100 unit of Beckman, Bremer, Johnk and Carson Fisher were the second group to compete and finished 15th in 51.82 seconds.
The 4×400 team of Gwen Steffen, Lydia Lindstrom, Beckman and Kemble earned a spot in today’s finals (at 3:55 p.m.) by finishing with the fifth seed at 4:07.34. The team had entered seeded sixth, in 4:13.14. The Panther girls 4×400 was 15th in 2017 in 4:11.84.
Up first today for Panorama will be Gwen Steffen (section one, spot one) and Kemble (section two, spot five) in the 800. Kemble was 10th last year in 2:25.07.
The shuttle hurdle team of Maggie Woodvine, Maddie Knapp, Shey Storesund, and Johnk are seeded fourth, in 1:08.48, and will run in the finals at 11:50 a.m. The Panthers just missed a medal in the event last season after finishing ninth in 1:09.56.
Johnk’s shot at gold in the 100 hurdles is slated for 1:05 p.m., with Ella Waddle — seeded seventh, in 5:08.02 — to run as the lone freshman in the 24-girl 1500 meter final at 2:45 p.m. The 4×400 finals will begin at 3:55 p.m.
