Metro Sports Report

Linn-Mar boys claim state track title

DES MOINES - Ken Hopkins had a plan when he became the Linn-Mar boys track coach five years ago.

It came to fruition Saturday.

The Lions rolled up 72 points and won their first Class 4A state title by a comfortable margin over Iowa City West, Waukee and Kennedy on a warm day at Drake Stadium.

"When I took over, I felt we had great kids and great talent," said Hopkins. "Just give them the mindset, they can win."

Jones, Jenks make golden runs at state

DES MOINES - Timauntay Jones and Stephanie Jenks turned in special performances at the state track meet Saturday.

Jones gave Cedar Rapids Jefferson its first gold medal in 30 years when he captured the Class 4A 800 meter run in a personal best 1 minute, 52.75 seconds.

Jenks, the precocious ninth grader from Linn-Mar, finished one of the most successful years for a freshman in state history when she added the 1500 meter title to her growing list of  accomplishments.

Metro athletes finished with eight gold medals at the state meet along with a long list of silver and bronze medals.

Lions beat Wash, then ousted by Tigers

The Linn-Mar boys’ magical ride last year into the state team tennis tournament proved too tough to repeat this season.

While they coasted past two lesser foes to get to state in 2012, on Saturday their path was much rougher.

They did topple rival Cedar Rapids Washington, 5-2, in the morning on their home courts.

But in the afternoon at Kennedy, the Lions were manhandled by powerful Cedar Falls, 5-1.

Kernels' offense sputters in 4-0 loss

For a team sitting atop most of the Midwest League’s hitting categories, it wasn’t the kind of offensive performance the Kernels hoped to put on before the season’s largest crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. They fell to the Kane County Cougars, 4-0, in front of 4,582 fans.

It was the first time the Kernels (28-13) were shutout this season.

The team on the field may have lost the game, but the Kernels have had 30,031 fans come through the turnstiles through the first 18 home dates this season. It is only the second time since the ballpark opened in 2002 that the team has drawn more than 30,000 fans through the first 18 home dates. That’s about a 48 percent increase in attendance over last season’s first 18 home dates.