Ames-area schools secure 13 medals at Iowa state track championships
Local high schools delivered 52 top-eight finishes at Drake Stadium, with standout performances from the Little Cyclones and Tigers defining the regional result.
Ames-area high schools concluded the 2026 Iowa high school girls and boys state track and field championships with a combined total of 13 medals and 52 top-eight finishes. The event, held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines from May 21 to 23, saw local competitors achieve significant success across classification classes based on school size. The Roland-Story girls secured the 2A shuttle hurdle title, while the Ames girls and Gilbert boys placed fourth in their respective team standings.
The Ames girls team scored 48 points to finish fourth in the 4A classification. Coach Erica Lynn-Douglas described the performance as the team’s best when it mattered most, noting that every qualifier finished higher than their initial seeding. Sophia Hatcher delivered a highlight performance for the Little Cyclones, setting a school record in the 4A girls long jump with a distance of 18 feet, 11.5 inches. She also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 14.17 seconds.
Ames earned six medals in total, with Ayak Akol, Elodie Biggs, Angelica Attinger, and Emma Stanley each securing bronze medals. Akol and Biggs tied for third in the high jump, while Attinger and Stanley took third in the 400 hurdles and 3,000 metres respectively. The Ames boys team tied for 24th in 4A with nine points, led by Brandon Johnson’s third-place finish in the shot put with a toss of 57 feet, 8.25 inches.
The Gilbert boys placed fourth in the 3A standings with 49 points, overcoming the absence of top sprinter Tanner Twedt due to a hamstring injury. Their 4x800 team briefly set a 3A state record before it was broken by Pella, finishing second overall. Logan Bleich placed third in both the 3,200 and 1,600 metres, contributing to the team’s strong distance showing. The Gilbert girls totaled 13 points, with freshman Aubrey Johnson placing second in the 3A girls long jump.
Other local schools also recorded notable results. The Roland-Story boys tied for 21st in 2A with 10 points, while Ballard boys earned a bronze medal in the 3A shuttle hurdle relay. Colo-NESCO recorded four top-eight finishes in the 1A classification, including a fourth-place finish for Elizabeth Erickson in the girls 1,500 metres. The event results were reported by the Ames Tribune, covering the local high school sports landscape in Iowa.
