Linn-Mar Boys Track

Evans named top track athlete by Gatorade

CHICAGO - Linn-Mar High School junior Josh Evans has been named the 2012-13 Gatorade Iowa Boys Track & field Athlete of the Year, the company announced Thursday.

Linn-Mar freshman Stephanie Jenks won the girls' award from Gatorade earlier this week, giving Linn-Mar a clean sweep of the honors.

Evans won the 3200 meter run at the Class 4A state track meet and anchored the sprint medley relay to victory, helping Linn-Mar win the team championship. He captured the 1600 meter run at the Drake Relays, breaking a meet record that had stood for 24 years.

Evans has a 4.0 GPA at Linn-Mar and participates in various activities for his school, community and church.

Evans joins a list of recent Gatorade track champions that includes Conner Smock (2011-12), Kevin Lewis (2010-11), Kyle Dunn (2009-10), Omet Kak (2008-09), Jarred Herring (2007-08) and Matt Banse (2006-07). Dunn is also from Linn-Mar.

Evans sets state record in 1600

LISLE, Ill. - Linn-Mar junior Josh Evans broke the state record in the 1600 meter run Saturday night with his performance at the Midwest Distance Festival at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill.

Evans placed third in an elite field of high school runners in the mile in 4 minutes, 10.79 seconds. He also was clocked for the slightly shorter 1600 meters in 4:08.80, which will become the No.1 time in state history once it is recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Jack Keelan of St. Ignatius won the mile in 4:07.50. Jacob Poyner of Warsaw High School was second in 4:09.92.

Evans set the state record in the 1600 at the Drake Relays this year with a winning time of 4:10.86, but Jason Thomas of Dowling lowered the mark to 4:10.14 when he beat Evans at the Class 4A state meet.

Now Evans has the record again.

Evans, Jones, Jacobus top all-Metro track

Josh Evans of Linn-Mar, Timauntay Jones of Jefferson and Derek Jacobus of Kennedy are three of the featured athletes on the 2013 All-Metro Boys Track Team.

Evans, Jones and Jacobus won titles at the state track meet this month. Evans claimed the 3200 meter run, Jones took the 800 meter run and Jacobus captured the long jump.

The Linn-Mar Lions won the Class 4A team championship at the state meet. The Lions also won the 4x200 relay and 1600 medley at state.

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Linn-Mar boys claim state track title

DES MOINES - Ken Hopkins had a plan when he became the Linn-Mar boys track coach five years ago.

It came to fruition Saturday.

The Lions rolled up 72 points and won their first Class 4A state title by a comfortable margin over Iowa City West, Waukee and Kennedy on a warm day at Drake Stadium.

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