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Evans called 'The Greatest' with 4 golds

DES MOINES - Josh Evans sat in the stands at the state track meet as a scrawny freshman in 2011 and loved seeing the crowd rise to its feet as Shelby Houlihan of Sioux City East set a batch of records in the girls distance races.

He remembers the Public Address announcer kept everyone informed that day as one record after another fell by the wayside.

"I remember thinking, that would be so cool if I could get that some day," Evans said Saturday afternoon. "It's really a dream come true that this happened."

Evans got his share of standing ovations Saturday as he completed one of the most remarkable performances in state meet history with four gold medals, three meet records and an all-time Iowa best in the 1600.

Mike Jay, the Public Address announcer, told the sun-splashed crowd of 8,744 that it was "The best distance performance in Iowa state meet history."

Evans wasn't sure about that, praising some of the other record-setting performances at this year's state meet, but he was the Star of Stars in the distance races with four golds.

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J-Hawks, Jenks win more gold medals

DES MOINES - Jasmine Blue runs fast for a reason.

"I hate getting second," she said with a sweet, determined smile. "I love first."

Blue had that loving feeling Saturday afternoon with a gutsy anchor to help Jefferson win the sprint medley at the Class 4A state track meet in Des Moines.

Ashley Norem of Urbandale made a spirited bid to pull ahead of Blue on the 400 leg of the medley, but Blue refused to concede.

"I felt her the whole time, but I knew I had to do it," said Blue. "I already knew how it was going to feel if I was going to get second."

And as she said before, "I hate second."

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Marion girls join soccer rankings

The Marion High School girls soccer team popped into the state rankings in the No. 15 spot in Class 2A Friday, according to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The Indians (7-4) were not ranked last week.

The Xavier Saints dropped one spot in the Class 2A rankings to No. 3. Waverly-Shell Rock and North Scott are ranked 1-2 in Class 2A.

Linn-Mar held onto the No. 2 spot in Class 3A and Prairie remained No. 10 in Class 3A. Bettendorf topped the 3A rankings again.

CLASS 3A

1. Bettendorf (14-1), 2. Linn-Mar (13-0), 3. Iowa City West (11-1), 4. West Des Moines Valley (9-3), 5. Dowling Catholic (9-4), 6. Dubuque Hempstead (12-2), 7. Johnston (12-3), 8. Waukee (11-2), 9. Muscatine (10-3), 10. Prairie (11-3).

CLASS 2A

1. Waverly-Shell Rock (12-4), 2. North Scott (12-4), 3. Xavier (6-7), 4. Ankeny Centennial (9-6), 5. Pleasant Valley (9-7), 6. Dallas Center-Grimes (12-3), 7. ADM (12-2), 8. Ankeny (5-8), 9. Pella (10-4), 10. Council Bluffs Jefferson (10-6), 11. Lewis Central (10-5), 12. Spencer (14-2), 13. Newton (10-3), 14. Winterset (10-4), 15. Marion (7-4).

McCrary soars away from trouble to state crown

DES MOINES - Curtis McCrary grew up on the mean streets of Detroit, where trouble was a constant and evil companion.

Compared to what he knew, Iowa is paradise for the Linn-Mar senior and new state champion.

McCrary sailed 23 feet, 1 inch to claim the state title in the Class 4A long jump Friday in his first and only year of competition in high school track.

"It feels great," he said. "First time here, last time here for high school. So it feels pretty good."

McCrary, 19, moved to Marion several years ago to live with an uncle and his uncle's wife. He left his mother and problems behind in Detroit for a better life in Iowa.

"I love it," he said. "I love it.

"Good school systems. And it pretty much keeps me out of trouble."

McCrary helped Linn-Mar climb into a tie for first place in the Class 4A team standings after Day 2 of the three-day meet with 42 points. Waukee also has 42, with eight events left Saturday.

Kennedy is sitting in third place with 35.5 points. Prairie is sixth with 22 points. Washington is 20th and Jefferson 23rd.

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