(Anita) CAM has a few girls state track holdovers from the 2019 season that all look to return to Des Moines.
Coach Luke Symonds starts with the returning state qualifiers when assessing his team’s opportunities to send athletes to Drake Stadium next week. “Molly Venteicher in the shot put, she’s got one of the top throws in the state. Then you also have Mallory Behnken and she made it there as a freshman. I’m expecting big things out of both of them. Not only in the shot put, but I think in the discus if they get those extra throws maybe both of them could put there best one out there for the year and maybe sneak in there as well. Then you have Jade Jackson in the high jump and she’s a two time state qualifier, expect big things out of her. Then you have a freshman Emma Follmann who jumped five foot the other day and is tied for 8th best in the state.”
On the track they’ve got some events with a chance to extend their season. “The shuttle hurdle team of Bree Bower, Nova Wheatley, Abby Follman, and Jade Jackson. They have the 14th best time in the state (as of Monday) and I still believe they haven’t put together their best time so that’s pretty exciting. Jade Jackson in the 100M Hurdles has one of the top times in the state. Those are the ones I’m feeling pretty good about.”
Elsewhere, coach Symonds says Jenna Wheatley has made a lot of good progress in the 100 as well as the group of Nova Wheatley, Abby Follmann, Emma Follmann, and Jenna Wheatley in the the 4X100.
Thursday’s meet in Audubon starts at 4:00 p.m. 1st place finishers are automatic state qualifiers. 14 additional qualifiers will be announced as at large bids after performances are compared with other state qualifying meets in different locations.
