Tigers look to defend conference title

MARENGO — The goals for the Iowa Valley boys track and field team this season starts with defending its conference title.

“We want to contend for the conference title again this year,” Iowa Valley coach Casey Krull said.

The Tigers took home the South Iowa Cedar League crown last year, scoring 132 points, 24 more than North Mahaska.

At state, the Tigers qualified in six events, taking home medals in three.

“We are coming off a strong 2024 track season and bring back a lot of guys from the 2024 team,“ Krull said. ”Throughout the season we had guys step up to fill events that we needed to help us win a conference title.“

Two of those three events that the Tigers placed in were relays.

The Tigers’ 4x400-meter relay team placed fourth, and sprint medley relay finished seventh.

Three members of each of those relays return in Jeffrey Crawford, Caleb Haack and Layne Peska.

Haack also qualified individually in the 200, and Crawford in the 400.

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Individually, Josh Read placed sixth in the high jump at state, jumping over the 6-foot, 3-inch mark (1.91m).

Read was also on the team’s qualifying shuttle hurdle relay team, which returns all four members (Read, Chance Hoyt, Nolan Kriegel and Dane Smith).

The Tigers return a bulk of their state qualifiers and have great numbers this season.

“We have 44 guys out for track and field, the most I have had in my five years at Iowa Valley,“ said Krull.

Other athletes will also be looking to step up this season for the Tigers.

“Goals are to see everyone on the team improve at some aspect of track and field,” Krull said. ”Whether that is throwing further, jumping higher, further, or improving their running times.“

The Tigers will also look to qualify for state in more events this season and place higher as a team.

“We want to qualify at least eight events to the state meet and place top 20,” said Krull.

Four indoor meets await the Tigers before the outdoor season, including the IATC Indoor Championships tomorrow at Iowa State University.

The outdoor season kicks off April 1 at East Marshall.

Schedule

3/13- IATC Indoor Championships at Iowa State

3/17- at Cornell College

3/20- at Central College

3/25- at Wartburg College

4/1- at East Marshall

4/3- at Belle Plaine

4/8- at WACO

4/10- at North Mahaska

4/15- Home meet

4/17- at Benton Community

4/22- at BGM

4/24- At Eddyville

4/28- at Belle Plaine

4/29- at Vinton-Shellsburg

5/6- SICL meet at Colfax-Mingo

5/8- Home meet

5/15- SQM at TBD

5/22-24- State Meet at Drake University