Wednesday, March 31, 2004

City High gets chilly win

By Jon Klinkowitz
Iowa City Press-Citizen

The term "post-race cool-down" took on a whole new meaning at the Little Hawk Invitational girls track meet Tuesday at Bates Field.

The temperature was in the mid-30s with a gusty wind and occasional snow flurries. But it didn't stop City High from dominating the field with 177 points.

Mount Pleasant was a distant second with 1091/2 points.

The Little Hawk Invitational has traditionally been City's first outdoor meet. And it has traditionally been cold.

"The first outdoor City High meet, I guess Mother Nature doesn't really like," City High's Camille Jordan said.

Jordan worked through the cold to win the 100- and 200-meter races, and anchor the winning 4x100 relay.

Less than a week ago, the Little Hawks ran in the climate-controlled Dickinson Relays in the UNI-Dome.

"It's a big muscle shock," Jordan said of heading outside. "Your muscles aren't really ready... You have to be real warmed up, and it's kind of difficult to get warmed up in this."

City High won five of the seven relays and took a close second in the 4x200. The Little Hawks suffered a setback in the shuttle hurdle relay when leadoff runner Tara Whiting tripped over the second hurdle and hyperextended her knee.

That was the lowest point in the meet for City, however. Other individual winners were Clair Anciaux in the 3,000, Nelle Trefz in the 800, Jennie Funk in the 1,500, Corrie Wagner in the shot put and Sarah Anciaux in the discus.

Virginia Dreier was second in the 400 and anchored the winning 4x400, Emily Triplett was second in the 100 hurdles and led off the 4x400, Sarah Anciaux was second in the shot put, and Wagner ran on the winning sprint medley relay and took third in the discus.

It was the first chance for the Little Hawks to run as a complete team since the record-setting 82-point performance in winning last year's state meet.

"I'm really excited about our team," Trefz said. "Last year was obviously an amazing season. Everyone has stepped it up because they realize how incredible it was to be a part of that. It's something we definitely want to shoot for again."