Jason Braverman Click for Caption

City High held off Cedar Falls, 146-138 1/2, for the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division girls' track meet Friday at Saints Field.

"I knew Cedar Falls was not only talented, but deep," said City High Coach Terry Coleman. "Everything they showed us at (the) Drake (Relays), they showed us here."

Maybe the gap is narrowing. But it's not as if City High is coming back to the pack. Other teams are coming after the Little Hawks, and Cedar Falls is one of them.

"It's really exciting this year. We know we're going to be challenged," said City's Nelle Trefz, who anchored the winning distance medley relay and won a star-studded 1,500-meter run. "It's going to keep us on our toes."

Trefz emerged from a 1,500 race that included some of the state's best. Sara Fassbinder of Dubuque Wahlert was second, followed by Cedar Rapids Washington's Shannon Oster and Cedar Rapids Xavier's Megan Glover.

She finished in 4:45.42, including a swift 2:29 in the final 800 to break away.

"That third lap is kind of a mental benchmark on how the race is going to go," said Trefz, who has enjoyed a breakthrough junior season. "If you feel good, you can push the pace. That's what I did tonight."

Cedar Falls won eight events, compared to six for City High. The Tigers' Liz Bradfield was named the division's athlete of the year.

She set personal bests in sweeping the 200 (25.08) and 400 (58.44). A few minutes after winning the 200, she anchored the Tigers to gold in the sprint medley relay.

Then she cut an interview short to, well, get sick.

"My legs felt like 100 pounds apiece," Bradfield said. "I felt horrible in that last race, but that's how you get stronger."

Cedar Rapids Jefferson turned the tables on Cedar Falls in the 400-meter relay. The J-Hawks, who finished second to the Tigers at Drake, won Friday in 50.01 seconds. The Tigers were clocked in 50.35.

The race was even until the anchor leg, when Tenika Smith outran Shatrece Burt. After breaking the tape, Smith kept it, wrapped around her shoulders.

"I used to do that my sophomore year. This was a big race, so I'll keep this," Smith said. "I have a track box at home, with medals and other stuff I keep for souvenirs.

"I'll keep this."

The meet was short one event. The sand pit was washed out, so the long jump was canceled.

- Click here for a printable version of this article -

Sound Off!

Be the first to comment on this story!