Linn-Mar Girls Track

Jenks calls halt to triathlon career

Stephanie Jenks is one of the top triathletes in the world, but the Linn-Mar junior plans to stop competing in the demanding event to focus on her equally promising career as a distance runner.

"I'm actually putting triathletes aside until after college," Jenks said Saturday during the J-Hawk Relays at Kingston Stadium. "I'm focusing on college and I want to run in college."

She said she hopes to pick a college by the end of the year.

Jenks won the silver medal in the triathlon at the 2014 Junior Olympics in China last summer and was named the USA Junior Triathlete of the Year. She has competed internationally for several years in the grueling event, which consists of swimming, biking and running.

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Jenks sets 2 records in Iowa City

IOWA CITY - Linn-Mar junior Stephanie Jenks smashed two meet records at the Women of Troy Relays in Iowa City Tuesday.

Jenks blazed to victory in the 800 meter run in 2 minutes, 14.38 seconds, breaking the old mark of 2:17.69 set by Erin Penticoff of Xavier in 2003. She captured the 1500 in 4 minutes, 35.77 seconds, snapping her own meet record of 4:42.94 set as a freshman in 2013.

Jenks ran the fastest times in the state this year in both events. She also ranks No. 1 in the state in the 3000.

Iowa City West nipped Linn-Mar for the team championship, 146 to 145. Prairie placed third, Kennedy fifth and Xavier seventh.

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Linn-Mar girls run 2nd at Muscatine

MUSCATINE - Stephanie Jenks won the 3,000-meter run and handled the anchor leg on the victorious distance medley relay Thursday to help Linn-Mar finish second at the Dick Washburn Invitational in Muscatine.

The meet was stopped after 12 events due to inclement weather.

Niki Sharma, Sarah Renner and Hanna Saville joined Jenks on the distance medley relay. Lannie Nietert captured the shot put for Linn-Mar. Linn-Mar placed third in the 4x200 relay and third in the 4x800 relay.

Katie VanDooren of Prairie finished second in the 100 meter hurdles. The Hawks also placed second in the shuttle hurdle relay. Hannah Frazee of Prairie was third in the 3,000 and McKenna Mumaw was third in the 100 hurdles.

Vanessa Eniola of Washington finished second in the long jump and the Warriors were third in the distance medley.

Team Standings

1. Bettendorf 69, 2. Linn-Mar 64.33, 3. Iowa City West 64, 4. Pleasant Valley 56, 5. Prairie 55, 6. Muscatine 46, 7. North Scott 45, 8. Hempstead 26.33, 9. Davenport North 16.33, 10. Washington 15.

Winners

100 - Emily Paul, Pleasant Valley, 12.84
400 - Larkin Chapman, Muscatine, 58.90
3000 - Stephanie Jenks, Linn-Mar, 10:00.80
100 hurdles - Valerie Welch, Iowa City West, 15.82
4x200 relay - Pleasant Valley 1:50.79
4x800 relay - Muscatine 9:54.72
Distance medley - Linn-Mar 4:25.32
Shuttle hurdle relay - Iowa City West 1:12.68
High jump - Kelli DeGeorge, Pleasant Valley, 5-3
Long jump - Maddy Youngers, North Scott, 15-10 3/4
Shot put - Lannie Nietert, Linn-Mar, 39-6 1/2
Discus - Leah Disterhoft, Iowa City West, 117-11

Jeff, Linn-Mar girls shine in Dubuque

DUBUQUE - The Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls track team won four events and claimed top honors at the University of Dubuque indoor meet Saturday at the B.Y. McDonald track.

The J-Hawks set a meet record in the 4x200 relay in 1:44.90 with Abbie Ranschau, Jasmine Blue, Morgan Meese and Lucy Schneekloth sharing the baton. Jefferson also claimed the 4x400 relay in 4:13.40 with Blue, Ranschau, Autumn Anderson and Meese.

Blue captured the 55 meter dash in 7.47 seconds and Ranschau won the 55 hurdles in 8.61 seconds. Schneekloth finished third in the 55 meter dash in 7.59 seconds.

Linn-Mar freshman Payton Wensel won the 400 meter dash and set a meet record in 58.79 seconds. Hanna Saville of Linn-Mar finished third in the 400 in 1:02.73.

Linn-Mar claimed the 4x800 relay with Deanna Newhouse, Wensel, Saville and Maddie Mann in 9:50.43.

Jefferson won the team championship with 70.5 points. Linn-Mar tied for sixth with 36 points.