Washington senior Brooke Foreman can expect stiff competition next week when she seeks to defend her Class 4A state title in the 400 meter hurdles.

The same holds true for Cedar Rapids Jefferson as the J-Hawks try to claim back-to-back state titles in the 4x200 relay.

Foreman is seeded fourth in the 400 hurdles behind Anne Leners of Pleasant Valley, Sarah Plock of Iowa City High and Jenny Roberts of Ankeny. Leners nipped Foreman for the 400 hurdles title at the Drake Relays and Plock has successfully challenged Foreman in the Mississippi Valley Conference this year despite being a freshman.

Jefferson has its entire 4x200 relay team back from last year's championship performance, but the J-Hawks are seeded only seventh for the state meet, a full 2.5 seconds behind top-ranked Davenport Central. Maliya Rattliffe, Summer Carber, Taylor Jacobson and Rachel Broghammer won the 4x200 last spring, but freshman Lucy Schneekloth has entered the picture as well this year.

The Kennedy Cougars have qualified in 13 events for the Class 4A state meet, the most qualifiers for any Metro team. The Linn-Mar Lions have qualified in 11 events.

CLASS 4A STATE QUALIFIERS

KENNEDY (13 events): Kathia Wampole (800), Megan Terukina (800), Allison Culver (1500, 3200), Alyssa Averhoff (1500, 3000), Marisa Estelle (100 hurdles), Kelsie Coates (400 hurdles), McKenzie Drahn (long jump), Ashlyn Milbrath (discus), shuttle hurdle relay, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay, 4x800 relay, sprint medley, distance medley.

LINN-MAR (11 events): Courtney Major (200), Halley Morgan (200), Rachel Perry (400), Brooklyn Kascel (3000), Ashley Jones (100 hurdles), Sara Strauel (high jump), Lannie Nietert (shot put), shuttle hurdle relay, 4x400, 4x800, sprint medley, distance medley.

WASHINGTON (8 events): Shannon Gorman (1500, 3000), Brooke Foreman (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles), Callie Stone (long jump), Jazz Royster (shot put), 4x100, distance medley.

XAVIER (8 events): Molly Breitbach (100), Alex Bartz (high jump), 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, sprint medley, distance medley.

PRAIRIE (9 events): Alison Speltz (100), Leslie Harder (high jump), Natalie Rumer (shot put), Rachel Griffin (shot put), Alex Malloy (discus), shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400.

JEFFERSON (7 events): Maliya Rattliffe (100), Lucy Schneekloth (100), Summer Carber (100 hurdles), Madison Ranschau (100 hurdles), Emma Edelen (discus), shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100, 4x200, sprint medley.

CLASS 3A STATE QUALIFIERS

MARION (8 events): Sam Livingston (400), Allison Scott (800), Morgan Kolarik (100 hurdles), Micaela Combs (discus), 4x200, 4x800, sprint medley, distance medley.