Jefferson Girls Track

Jeff girls defend crown in 4x200 relay

DES MOINES - The Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls were disappointed in themselves when they finished second in the 4x200 relay at the Drake Relays last month.

They got mad, and Friday they returned to Drake Stadium and got the gold.

Abbie Ranschau, Jasmine Blue, Morgan Meese and Lucy Schneekloth sped to victory in their favorite event in 1 minute, 41.12 seconds for a convincing victory over Dowling Catholic.

Blue and Schneekloth helped the J-Hawks set the all-time state mark in 4x200 relay at the Class 4A state meet last year in 1:40.94. Meese and Schneekloth joined the quartet this year and they produced the third-fastest time ever, just 18-hundredths of a second behind last year's group.

Ranschau, Blue, Meese and Schneekloth are all underclassmen. They plan to be back in 2015 and take another shot at the all-time mark.

"We all want it," said Blue. "We'll get it next year."

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Jenks snaps own state mark in 3000

DES MOINES - Linn-Mar sophomore Stephanie Jenks gets a big kick out of breaking records.

The bigger, the better.

Jenks struck again Thursday morning, snapping her own state record in the 3000 meter run by more than two seconds at the Class 4A state track meet in Des Moines.

Jenks was clocked in 9 minutes, 24.67 seconds as she ran away with the race and won by more than 31 seconds, similar to her dominating performance at the Drake Relays last month.

Jenks broke her own all-time state mark of 9:26.87 and topped the meet record of 9:27.25 set by Katie Flood of Dowling Catholic in 2010.

Her next target could be the all-time national record in the 3000 of 9:08.6.

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Lions, J-Hawks shine in Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN - The Linn-Mar and Jefferson track teams combined for 18 gold medals at the Class 4A state qualifier coed meet in Marshalltown Thursday.

The Linn-Mar girls, led by triple-champ Stephanie Jenks, captured eight events and claimed the team championship with 179.5 points.

The Jefferson girls, always strong in the relays, won five events and finished third in the standings with 116 points.

The Linn-Mar boys, led by triple-champ Josh Evans, won five events and placed third in their team standings.

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Jeff girls win 6 events at MVC meet

WATERLOO - The Jefferson girls track team captured six events at the MVC Mississippi Division meet in Waterloo Thursday.

Jasmine Blue blazed to victory in the 100 meter dash (12.87) and Madison Ranschau claimed the 100 hurdles (15.87).

The J-Hawks won the shuttle hurdle relay with Abbie Ranschau, Sam Kitterman, Ellie Trosky and Madison Ranschau clocked in 1:06.09. Abbie Ranschau, Blue, Morgan Meese and Lucy Schneekloth took the 4x200 relay in 1:44.92.

Madison Ranschau, Schneekloth, Abbie Ranschau and Blue captured the sprint medley in 1:52.14. Schneekloth, Abbie Ranschau, Meese and Blue won the 4x100 relay in 49.43 seconds.

Alyssa Averhoff of Kennedy won the 3000 meter run in 10:57.31.

Iowa City High won the meet with 166 points. Jefferson finished third (89) and Kennedy was fourth (69).