But the Little Hawks didn't exactly apply the brakes.

City High steamrolled through the Cedar Rapids Prairie Relays Thursday at John Wall Field. The Little Hawks won 11 events, scored 162 points and largely resembled a state-championship unit.

"Our coaches wanted us to get after it and get some good performances tonight," said middle-distance ace Monica Mims. "We figured we'll have time to rest after district. Now is the time to get our confidence up."

If so, Mims has to be feeling pretty good. About her team and about herself. The junior breezed to the 400-meter title in 1:00.29, then ran sub-59 400 legs on the Little Hawks' winning sprint medley and 1,600-meter relays.

The sprint medley foursome of Liz Matzen, Maya Monitto-Webber, Patrice Jones and Mims ran 1:51.90, breaking an 18-year-old meet record.

Mims got the baton with the lead, then held off a challenge by Prairie's Debbie Akerly and Linn-Mar's Ashley Williams.

"I knew those teams were running their best anchors, so I had to move," Mims said. "Our coaches have been working on my turnover down the stretch."

Mims wasn't the only City star. Jennie Funk won the 3,000- and 800-meter races. Jessica Elliott swept the throwing events.

Like just about everybody else in Thursday's field, the Little Hawks were two days removed from the MVC divisional meets. And districts are next Monday.

Unlike most of the others, the Little Hawks didn't back off. Not much, anyway.

"We started off a little slow, but things really picked up toward the end of the night," said City Coach Terry Coleman. "The sprint medley and the 4-by-400 . . . they were just incredible."

City High ran that 1,600 relay in 4:02.82.

Prairie was the runner-up with 93 points.

Prairie's Rachel Sippy set a meet record in the high jump, clearing 5 feet 6 inches to match her career best. A junior, Sippy nearly exited at 5-2 before succeeding on her third try. She made 5-3, 5-4 and 5-6 on first attempts.

"It feels a lot better when you do it on the first jump," Sippy said. "It takes a lot off your mind, and it saves your legs."

Her best jump, though, might have been her second try at 5-7, when she barely grazed the bar with her calf after her body had cleared.

"I got over it," she said. "On that jump, I put everything together technique-wise."

Prairie's Danielle Salwey raced to the 100-meter crown. Xavier got first-place finishes from Jenny Lorenson (200) and its 3,200-meter relay.

Lynn Dobyns won the 1,500 for Iowa City West's lone victory.

- PRINTABLE VERSION -