State News

15 Metro boys make all-state soccer

Fifteen players from Metro boys soccer teams have been named all-state by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Seth Rinderknecht of Cedar Rapids Prairie and Ben Johnson of Linn-Mar were named first team all-state in Class 3A. Gunnar Lenzen of Washington, Nikolas Newcamp of Kennedy, Leroy Enzugusi of Linn-Mar, Jack Ramsey of Linn-Mar and Ryan Walker of Kennedy were named second team all-state in 3A. Alec Balta of Prairie, Mark Schulz of Kennedy and Logan Rinderknecht of Prairie received honorable mention in 3A.

Connor Ramlo of Xavier was named first team all-state in Class 2A. Luke Koechner, Luke Duball and Will Hanigan of Xavier received honorable mention in 2A.

Joey Philipp of Cedar Valley Christian was named first team all-state in Class 1A.

Linn-Mar won the Class 3A state title this year and Xavier claimed the Class 2A crown.

Drake Relays could be Metro bonanza

Metro athletes have hit the jackpot at the Drake Relays the last three years with 12 gold medals and three meet records since 2012.

There could be more of the same this week when the Relays are held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, with the high school events set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Linn-Mar junior Stephanie Jenks, one of the top young distance runners in the country, appears poised for more success at Drake this week. She captured the 1500 and 3000 meter runs at Drake as a freshman in 2013, then repeated her double last year as a sophomore and set a meet record in the 3000.

Linn-Mar athletes have claimed nine of those 12 gold medals by Metro athletes since 2012, but members of the Jefferson girls track team will be looking to make their mark this year after several near-misses the past few seasons.

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Girls CC runners to race 5,000 meters in fall

Things will be equal for girls and boys cross country runners in Iowa, starting this fall.

On Wednesday, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union board of directors voted unanimously to extend girls cross country races to 5,000 meters, beginning with the 2015 season.

Boys in Iowa have run the 5,000-meter distance for nearly 30 years. Girls ran 2-mile races until 2002 when the distance was upped to 4,000 meters.

IHSAA cancels football game

The Iowa High School Athletic Association cancelled tonight's game at Des Moines East between the Scarlet and Ames High School after rumors of possible violence. For more on the story go to this link from the Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2014/10/17/east-ames-football-canceled/17450119/