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The 2003 Little Hawks left no doubt Saturday they're the best girls' track team in state history. City High scored an all-time state meet record 82 points to run away with its second straight Class 3A title by a whopping 40 points over second-place West Des Moines Valley at Drake Stadium. It was City High's fifth state title in the last seven years.

The Little Hawks, who won five events, put an exclamation point on the meet when Monica Mims, Katie Krei, Virginia Dreier and Meggan Reed won the 1,600-meter relay in 3:56.94. They needed to finish fourth to break Sioux Center's state record of 74 points set in 1980. Indianola (69 points in 1980) had the previous high point total in 3A.

"It's not just a few stars. We have everyone who goes out there and tries their best with all their heart," Reed said. "We had our hopes set high, but I never even dreamed of this."

City High Coach Terry Coleman couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"You never think it might actually turn out to be the dream weekend that you hope for," Coleman said. "But we started off strong on Friday, and the kids carried it onto every event. They just nailed it."

Junior Nelle Trefz showed she's the premier distance runner in 3A, sweeping the 1,500 (4:40.00) and 3,000 (10:10.21). She ran a 2:13.9 anchor leg on the winning 3,200 relay, which ran the fourth fastest time in Iowa high school competition (9:14.85). Maggie Leyendecker, Jennie Funk and Reed also were on the team.

City High scored 54 relay points, with three firsts and three seconds.

"We started off with the first final (distance medley relay) and that was such an inspiring race the way all those girls just laid it out there," Trefz said. "The excitement just kept building race after race. We had girls lay it out on the line and give it their best -- jump their farthest, throw their farthest, run their fastest. It was really pretty exciting."

The excitement, and the state titles, weren't limited to east Iowa City.

Athletes from Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City West joined the party.

Washington junior LaNeisha Waller set an all-time Iowa best in winning the long jump (19-5) and added a repeat title in the 100 (12.05).

Waller's teammate, Wendy Milam, needed only her first throw to win a discus championship. The senior's toss of 132 feet 5 inches stand up. Marshalltown's Amy Waggoner took second (131-7).

"I've worked a long two weeks, doing extra work and making extra throws," Milam said. "Once you experience that, you expect yourself to be better than the rest. I guess I just have the pleasure of actually being one of those people who get to experience winning."

Kennedy senior Lynnette Wilson also capped her career in style by winning a title in the 400 (57.86). She finished second in the 200 (25.30) to Des Moines Roosevelt's Miriam Chisala.

"This is an incredible feeling," Wilson said. "I thought about it (state title) but now that I'm on top, I don't even know how I feel. It's so amazing."

West senior Lynn Dobyns, who was a part of state title teams in 2000 and 2001, captured her first individual championship, winning the 800 (2:15.84). Xavier's Erin Penticoff, who anchored the Saints' second-place 3,200 relay, finished right behind Dobyns in 2:17.51.

"After having two state team championships, it kind of motivates you because you know how awesome it feels when you cross the finish line," Dobyns said. "I wanted to go for that (800 title) so bad. I worked really hard this year. This was one of my biggest goals."

The Women of Troy were shooting for their sixth straight 3,200 relay title but didn't place, finishing seventh in 9:43.59.

Washington finished fourth with 31 points. West was fifth, Xavier sixth.

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