It’s show time starting today for our area track and field athletes as the State High School Track and Field meet gets underway. After finishing 10th in Class 3A at state last year, the Pella boys feel they are a legitimate top five team this year and will be disappointed with less.

Pella coach Brent Van Hauen says this is the time for them to shine and they’ll need to be at their best because there are several teams that will compete for a top five spot. He says Knoxville, Sioux City Heelan, Algona, Harlan, and Central Dewitt are all teams capable of a top five finish along with Pella. Seven of Pella’s 15 events will compete during day one today starting with Aaron Mason in the high jump at 2pm. Brett Bogaard will run the 100 meter dash prelims at 4:35pm and the 200 prelims at 6:40pm. Zach Wittenberg will run the 3200 at 3:50pm.

The Pella girls will have just three of their 11 events competing today at the State Track and Field meet including the 4×800 Relay at 4:50pm, Nadine Van Zomeren in the 400 at 7pm and the Shuttle Hurdle Relay prelims at 7:40pm. Coach Dak Rasmussen is very pleased to have 11 events qualified and says they also are eyeing a top five finish in the team standings. Rasmussen says the girls are very excited and mentally ready and he’s excited to see what they can do the next three days. For a complete look at today’s scheduled events in order for our area athletes go to www.kniakrls.com and select the Thursday State Track schedule story under sports. We will also update results throughout the day on that page as they become available and we’ll report results throughout the day on 92.1 FM KRLS

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