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Saturday,
March 30, 2002
West,
City rivalry strong
2002
preview
By
Jon
Klinkowitz
Iowa
City Press-Citizen
West High girls track coach Mike Parker said he's often
asked about the rivalry that's developed with City High.
"People
outside of town get irritated," he said. "There's other
teams that are outstanding, but it's become part of every
spring that the two of us face off. People ask if I get
tired of having a great team like that on the other side
of town. But I think it makes us better and it makes them
better.
"I'm
excited about the competition we have between each other."
The
Women of Troy have gotten the best of the rivalry lately,
winning the last two Class 3A state titles. But last year's
race couldn't have been closer. West won 53-52.
This
season looks to have another close finish.
"We
definitely lost some stars," Parker said. "But this year
we're deeper than we ever have been in the events we've
traditionally run well in."
West
lost top hurdler Lara Janson, Beth Aunan in the discus
and Lauren Levy in the 1,500.
Several
stars remain, however. Jeni Frudden, who recently committed
to run for Michigan, is coming off a cross country season
that saw her set the state record. Lynn Dobyns will be
a force in the 400 and 800. Lindsey Windauer is a top
returning 400 and relay runner.
West
also has a deep freshman class, led by Julia Frudden and
Janet Dobyns - both of whom had excelled in cross country
season. Others include Naomi Hillsman in the 400 and high
jumper Allison Dirks. Sophomore sprinter Sara Walker is
back after missing last year with an injury.
"We
have people that are still developing," Parker said. "We're
not really pushing anyone to be ready, but we'll have
a lot of people that will play a role."
Parker
said the Women of Troy may take their lumps early, as
top stars Jeni Frudden and Lynn Dobyns may only run two
events each in an effort to save their strength for USA
Junior Nationals in June.
"We're
not as strong of an invitational team," Parker said. "But
when it counts, we'll add them in."
City
High
The
Little Hawks plan on giving the Women of Troy a run for
their money.
City
has 21 letterwinners back from last year and lost just
five points from last year's state runner-up squad.
"We're
fairly strong all across the board," City coach Terry
Coleman said. "It would always be nice to have more, but
we're not going to complain."
All
four members of the fourth-place shuttle hurdle relay
team are back, Maya Monitto-Webber, Virginia Dreier and
Monica Mims return from the state-champion sprint medley
relay and Elizabeth Matzen, Mims and Nelle Trefz are back
from the winning distance medley relay.
Jennie
Funk and Trefz took third and fourth, respectively, in
the 1,500 at the state meet, and second and fourth in
the 3,200. Jessica Elliott went to state in the discus
and Meggan Reed and Ali Kirsch are also back from high-placing
relay teams.
"There
aren't a lot of other teams that have point scorers in
a number of events," Coleman said. "There aren't too many
teams that can put together 40 to 50 points at the state
meet."
Sophomore
Camille Jordan is out for the sport for the first time,
but should contribute to the short sprints. Promising
freshmen include Tara Whiting in the hurdles, Maggie Leyendecker
in the 800 and Katie Krei in the 400.
The
Little Hawks won state titles in 1997, '98 and '99 before
West took over the last two years. Coleman likes how the
teams match up.
"They
have a lot of middle distance on up," Coleman said of
the Women of Troy. "The things they're a little down on
are hurdles, sprinters and field events. But we have that."
Regina
With
14 seniors gone from a team that took seventh place in
the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference, one might think the
Regals are rebuilding. But a strong freshman class is
boosting the team right back toward the top.
Regina
opened the outdoor season with an invitational at home
Tuesday, easily beating three teams that placed higher
at the conference meet last year.
Freshman
Carly DuCharme has looked strong already in the long jump
and hurdles. Other top freshmen are Liz Ingram in the
sprints and hurdles, Annie Porter and Evelyn Ross in the
middle distance, Alyssa Reichelt and Sarah White in the
sprints and and Katy Synan in the distance.
"We've
got some amazing freshman," coach Chad Swope said. "Right
off the bat, we've already run two of our relays faster
than all of last year."
Melia
Raitt returns as Regina's lone state-meet place-winner,
taking 12th in the 1,500.
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us know what you think of this story...
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