A RUNNING START: GIRLS AND BOYS TRACK

As March begins, so does CCA’s track and field season. I can say that our track athletes and coaches alike are very excited for the ‘26 season! Coach Carey—a head coach of the track team and main hurdle coach—says, “A lot of athletes, particularly in the junior and senior class,  have been stacking positive days of training for several years now both on the track and in the weight room and I’m excited for them to see the fruits of their labor.” In addition to this, Carey also says, “Also, I’m excited to see some talented freshmen and sophomores emerge.”

CCA boys track team executing warmups; photo by Jacob Sams Sanchez

Last season, like the boys track team, the girls made it to arguably the most significant meets of the season: both the state and Drake relays competition. This year we’re hoping for the same—or an even better outcome. Our big hitters in terms of racking up points and placing in top spots last season were primarily former sophomores (current juniors) and former juniors (current seniors). The girls qualified for all relays besides the sprint medley. The shuttle hurdle relay girls made finals. Both the 4x100 meter relay and the 4x200 meter relay broke school records with times 50.25 seconds and 1:43.40. In terms of individual events we had some great accomplishments last season. Senior Nakia Tangang qualified for state in discus, senior Jaylin Herring qualified for state as well in 400 hurdles and senior Elizabeth Timmerman in the 200M sprint. 

This all goes to say that the chances of an equally successful or even greater 2026 season are high! 

This season, senior night will be taking place at our home meet on April 30th. Senior girls that you can look forward to seeing that day include: Sydney Pfieffer, Elizabeth Timmerman, Jaylin Herring, Kennedy Stratton, Nakia Tangang, Anna Johnson, and Emily Henderson. The class of 2026 track girls have proven to be a strong group. You can anticipate exciting performances from all of them to wrap up their high school careers.

Here’s what to also expect from the boys track team this season, what went well last season, and how our seniors are gonna wrap up their high school track careers.

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Last track season was by far the greatest season that CCA boys have ever had. Unfortunately, we had quite a number of injuries across the roster throughout last season. Despite this, the boys were able to win the conference competition, districts, and were within merely a few points from winning a state championship, instead getting third place as an overall team. Four CCA events were in the top ten all time performances in Iowa track and field history: Tay Seals in the 110 highs, with a time of 13.58 seconds, Landon Prince in the shot put with a throw of 61-10 ¾, as well as discus with a throw of 181 feet, 10 inches, and, finally, our boys shuttle hurdle relay—including Tay Seals, Owen Rosenberg, Luke Higdon, and former freshman (current sophomore) Eliezer Mipata—with an overall time of 57.49 seconds. 

Just like the girls, this boys track season’s senior night will be taking place at our home meet on April 30th. Seniors competing this season include: Adam Zeman, Carter Benjamin, Carson Bromwell, Tate Burken, Caden Burkle, Riley Colvin, Kameron Dunkin, Benjamin Houchins, Karl Westermann, Cade Overman, Conlan Poynton, Blayne Roberts, James Schiefer, Aren Schlemme, Nic Schieltz, Jackson VanHorn, Ethan Vice, and Evan Waring. This is quite the number of boys in comparison to the number of senior girls—so much is to be expected from them, too!