Top Volleyball Athletes Finding Success in Hurdles Enroute To State Track
This weekend, the top athletes in the state of Iowa will be heading to the “Blue Oval” on the campus of Drake University to compete at the Girls and Boys Iowa State Track Championships. A storied venued full of legendary…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThis weekend, the top athletes in the state of Iowa will be heading to the “Blue Oval” on the campus of Drake University to compete at the Girls and Boys Iowa State Track Championships. A storied venued full of legendary performances not only for high school athletes, but those on the collegiate and international levels as well. In looking at the state qualifiers across all classes there is major overlap between some of the top volleyball athletes and state qualifiers especially in high jump and long jump. However, we’re taking a closer look at some hurdle matchups where the list of athletes who are getting a chance to compete at the state level for the second time in a year is really surprising. Here is a closer look at some of the crossover competitors who are making a name for themselves on the volleyball court and track.
Kenzie Mantz of Belle Plaine is committed to Iowa State for volleyball, but is competing at state track this weekend in two hurdle events.Kenzie Mantz, the Iowa State volleyball recruit has one big event before heading to Ames to start training with the Cyclone volleyball team. Qualifying in multiple events for the state track and field meet, but hurdles is where she has the chance to do some damage. Mantz qualified in the 100 m hurdles and her shuttle hurdle team has the second fastest qualifying time in Class 1A heading in the state meet this weekend.
Olivia Miller of Tripoli was able to play in the state volleyball tournament and is also heading to state track this weekend with the fourth overall fastest time in Class IA.
Take the top hurdlers from Class 2A and a pretty athletic volleyball team could be formed. The top overall time in Class 2A is Paige Kisley of Osage who was standout outside hitter for the Green Devils in their third consecutive trip to state. Just a Sophomore, Kisley will have a busy weekend of events at the state track meet. One competitor she’s been facing all year in volleyball and track is Kelsey Koch, the Top of Iowa West Player of the Year from Forest City in volleyball, finisheded second in the 100 meter hurdles behind Kisley at the Garner Regional meet, but has the third overall time heading into the Class 2A state meet.
Who’s second? Heather Boeckenstedt from Dyersville Beckman. This past volleyball season, she led the Blazers to a semifinal appearance while racking up 374 kills, good for over three per set. She was named 2nd Team All State. Beckman is coming into the weekend with the top time in Class 2A for the shuttle hurdle and are currently less than a second from breaking the Class 2A state record.
UNI volleyball recruit, Emily Holterhaus of Pella will be finishing her track career running the blue oval in the 400 meter hurdles. There is also a big batch of Class 3A shuttle hurdle teams who also saw success in volleyball this past fall with Dallas Center-Grimes with top outside hitter with Katelyn Knudsen. Three of Mount Vernon’s shuttle hurdle team was part of their state tournament volleyball team in Lauren Ryan, Natalie Welch, and Annie Leopold.
In Class 4A, there is never a shortage of talent between Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial. Always strong in all sports, and track definitely being one of them. For Malea Daugherty of Ankeny High and Calea Jones of Ankeny Centennial, they have probably been competing their whole lives against each other in volleyball and track. Once again that will be the same case this weekend as Ankeny will take the 6th fastest shuttle hurdle time with Centennial right behind with the 7th fastest overall.