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And the best team.

Iowa City High completed its assault on the Class 3A field -- and the record books -- Saturday at Drake Stadium.

The Little Hawks accumulated 82 points to claim their fifth championship in seven years. The tally was the best ever, breaking the 3A record (69, Indianola in 1980) and the overall mark (74, Sioux Center in 1980).

"I think you can safely call this the best team in state history," said City High Coach Terry Coleman.

Last year, Coleman likened his team to a tidal wave.

This year? "We're more like an F-5 tornado," he said.

The Little Hawks won the crown by 40 points over West Des Moines Valley. They won five titles this weekend, including three by Nelle Trefz.

The junior distance ace won the 1,500 and anchored the victorious 3,200-meter relay Saturday to go with her 3,000 title Friday.

"You look at every event, and we ran so hard and so well," Trefz said. "Add it all up, and this is what you end up with."

City High capped the weekend with a win in the 1,600-meter relay, the meet's final event.

WHILE THE Little Hawks scored, Cedar Rapids Washington's LaNeisha Waller soared.

Waller established an all-time Iowa best in the long jump, leaping 19 feet 5 inches to win the 3A title.

Her effort was one inch farther than the record set by Tashika Lewis of Des Moines North in 1994.

She was typically soft-spoken afterward.

"I'm just out there jumping and I'm out there running," she said. "It's kind of surreal, actually. It just doesn't seem right."

Waller also won the 100 meters, and teammate Wendy Milam claimed the discus title as Washington finished fourth in the 3A race.

Atlantic won the 2A title. Northeast and LeMars Gehlen shared the 1A crown.

North Linn was third in 1A with sophomore Ellen Ries, a triple winner for the second straight year.

Ries won the 800 and anchored the Lynx to victory in the 3,200-meter relay Saturday. She anchored a winning distance medley Saturday.

"It's unbelievable to have won six (titles) already," Ries said. "My legs are a little stronger than last year, and that helps a lot."

Williamsburg won its seventh straight 3,200-meter relay when anchor Terran Wertz outdueled Gretchen Notebook of Unity Christian in the 2A race.

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