DES MOINES - The Jefferson J-Hawks are extremely proud about setting the state record in the girls 4x200 relay last year, but the expecations are much higher now.

Now they expect to win the race every time, even though Jasmine Blue and Lucy Schneekloth are the only two holdovers from that record-setting quartet.

Jefferson finished second in the 4x200 relay Friday at the Drake Relays, getting nipped by Davenport Assumption by 33-hundreths of a second. They plan to do better the next time they run in a major event at the state meet.

By coincidence, the J-Hawks also placed second in the 4x200 relay at Drake last year before setting the all-time record in the event a month later at the Class 4A state meet.

It could be deja vu all over again.

"It's not over yet," said Blue, looking forward to the state meet. "It's not over.

"We'll be ready at the end of the year," she vowed.

Jefferson High School athletes claimed three silver medals Friday.

The Jefferson boys finished second in their version of the 4x200 relay with Jacob Beaton, Nate Karlan, Dan Larson and Dylan Chittick sharing the baton in 1:28.56. Waukee won the race in 1:27.81, just three-quarters of a second faster.

Madison Ranschaw collected another second-place finish for the J-Hawks in the 100 hurdles in 15.01 seconds. She naturally wanted to win the race, but was pleased with her performance.

"I'm really happy with second place. It's better than I've done the past three years," she said. "I feel pretty good.

"It's just really nice running on that track. It's been a lifetime experience."

Jefferson had a slight bobble on the final exchance on the sprint medley as Morgan Meese gave the baton to Schneekloth. The J-Hawks are normally silky smooth on their handoffs, but that slight hesitation may have cost them the race.

They know what they have to work on before the state meet in late May.

"Handoffs," said Blue. "Handoffs can always get better."

The Jefferson girls finished third in the sprint medley Friday with Madison Ranschau, Abbie Ranschau, Schneekloth and Blue timed in 1:48.18.

Tysen VanDraska of Prairie placed fourth in the 800 in 1:57.17.

Willie Rhoads of Kennedy finished fifth in the high jump at 6-foot-5.