Iowa’s best high school girls track and field athletes: Meet the state’s top sprinters
The spring season goes by in a split-second, just like some of these incredible speedsters you can see all around Iowa.
Here we highlight some of the top sprinters in the state. This is not a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of outstanding track athletes in Iowa.
Jaidyn Sellers, Panorama, senior
Just a pure athlete, Sellers is the reigning champion in several events. She captured the Class 2A title in the 100, 200 and 400 last spring, setting a record in the 100. She also won four individual titles her first two seasons, sweeping the 100 and 200. Sellers will play softball at the University of Iowa next year.
Jessica Kyne, Des Moines Hoover, senior
One of the fastest girls in the state, Kyne claimed the 3A 100 and 200 as a junior, while also running the anchor for the winning 4x100. As a sophomore, she earned a runner-up and two thirds at state.
Lydia Erickson, Riverside Oakland, senior
A relay specialist, Erickson has three state titles and five other Top-3 finishes in relay events. She helped her team win the 4x200 and 4x400 a season ago.
Elliana Harris, Sioux City East, senior
After a fifth as a sophomore, Harris made it to the top last year, winning the 4A 100 and 200 events while also claiming a relay bronze.
Makayla Crannell, Adel-ADM, senior
Crannell was the 3A runner-up in both the 100 and 200, while earning gold in the 4x200. She also won titles in two relays as a junior.
Rylee Steffens, Dubuque Wahlert, senior
With three relay championship and three more runner-up medals to her credit, Steffens will look to shine bright once more this year.
Aleksys Gannon, Murray, senior
The defending 1A champ in the 200, Gannon also was second in the 100 a season ago. As a junior, she captured the 400 and was second in the 1,500.
Gracie Federspiel, Solon, senior
Federspiel remains an elite runner, winning gold in the 800 in 3A while also placing third in the 400. She anchored the winning distance medley and second place 4x800.
Reece Brownlee, Clear Lake, junior
Brownlee has started off the year strong at indoor meets, following up a gold, two thirds and a fifth last year. She won the 3A 400 and was third in the long jump.
Addison Swartzendruber, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, senior
One-half of a talented sister duo, Addison was second in the 4A 400 and helped Kennedy claim the sprint medley while placing third in the 4x400.
Sidney Swartzendruber, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, senior
The other piece to the Kennedy sister tandem, Sidney was third in the 400, sixth in the 800 and part of the winning sprint medley and third place 4x400 relays.
Bailey Vos, Pella Christian, sophomore
Vos picked up silver in the 2A 400 and was a qualifier in the 800. On the relay side, she anchored the second place sprint medley and ran on the fifth place 4x400.
Kanijah Angel, Clinton, senior
Angel has a pair of Top-6 finishes in the 4A 100 under her belt, including a bronze medal last year.
Brynn Walters, Western Dubuque, senior
Walters was busy a season ago at state, placing sixth in the 100 while also running on Top-8 relays. She won two relay titles and had three other Top-8s the previous years.
Jacey Johnston, Osage, sophomore
As just a freshman, Johnston finished third in the 2A 20 and also qualified for the state 100.
Aly Stahle, Solon, junior
Two seconds and a pair of thirds were the highlight for Stahle at state. She picked up silvers as part of the sprint medley and shuttle hurdle relays, while finishing third in the 3A 200 and was on the 4x200.
Eden Moore, Van Meter, senior
Moore was on the winning sprint medley, finished second in the 400 hurdles and had a bronze in the 100 in 2A last year.
Taylor Wing, Maquoketa, junior
Wing showed off her speed by placing third in the 100. She also anchored the third place 4x100 the fourth place 4x200 in 3A as just a sophomore.
Maya Williams, Bettendorf, senior
Williams will look to build off her fourth place finish in the 400 in 4A last season.
Jaselyn Anderson, Estherville-LC, senior
Anderson qualified in three events in 2A, placing fourth in the 400. She also ran in the 100 and 200 races.
Jacie Trine, Pella, senior
Trine was busy last year, picking up four Top-4 finishes, highlighted by a second in the 3A 400. She also was fourth in the 200.
Emmy Lundy, Nodaway Valley, senior
Lundy claimed two relay silvers as a junior while also placing fourth in the 1A 200 and running on the fourth place sprint medley relay.
Tierney Huss, MOC-Floyd Valley, senior
Huss concluded her junior campaign with a fourth at state in the 3A 100 while also placing seventh in the 200 and running on the fifth place 4x100.
Meredith Van Wyk, Pella Christian, sophomore
Along with being the anchor on a runner-up sprint medley in 2A, Van Wyk was third in the 200 and sixth in the 100.
Clara Smith, Davis County, senior
Smith was fourth in the 100 as a sophomore and helped Davis County finish third in the 4x100 last year.
Tieler Hull, Underwood, junior
Hull came into the year with a pair of bronze medals in relays, adding a sixth and a seventh to her resume.
--Dana Becker | @SBLiveIA
