Sydney Milani Re-Writes Iowa Record Book With Sprint Quadruple

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

A record crowd of 8,912 on Saturday at Drake Stadium witnessed history as Sydney Milani gave them a show they will remember for a long time. In her final Iowa state track and field championship meet, the Southeast Polk senior won the Class 4A 100, 200, 400 and 800 titles, smashing all-time Iowa records in three of the events, and stamping herself as one of the greatest prep athletes in state history. 

"That just blew my mind," Milani said in an interview with the Des Moines Register. "I never thought I'd be able to run all four events."

Milani’s accomplishments over the three-day meet, including an 11.49-second 100, which broke a record set in 1985 of 11.49 by Olympian Natasha Kaiser-Brown. She ran 23.68 in the 200 and 52.90 in the 400. Her 800 time was 2:10.38, good for the 12th fastest in state history.

Milani is set to run for Iowa State this coming fall. 

MILANI INTERVIEW AT DRAKE RELAYS

In 2A, Isaiah Wittrock of Perkin also won four events, helping guide his team to a state title. Wittrock won the 400 (48.93), 800 (1:55.94) and was part of the first-place 4x400 and 4x800 relays. 

Senior Payton Wensel of Linn-Mar broke the meet record in the 4A 400 hurdles (1:00.15) and ran on the winning 4x1 and 1,600 relays. 

One of the fastest in the state, West Liberty’s Tanner Iske set a 2A 100 record, running 10.58.

On the track, distance star Anna Hostetler of Mid-Prairie finished off her high school track career by winning the 2A 800 (2:15.53) and 1,500 (4:42.17). She also ran on the winning 4x800 relay.

Crestwood senior Ellie Friesen picked up three individual victories, as she won the 3A 800 (2:13.63), 1,500 (4:39.40) and 3,000 (10:15.43). She also ran on the winning DMR.

Janette Schraft of East Mils, claimed the 1A 800 (2:14.98), 1,500 (4:42.24) and 400 hurdles (1:03.13).

Gable Sieperda of Central Lyon raced to a 1A 1,600 crown in a meet record time of 4:13.78.

Riley Bauer of North Union easily won the 2A 800, setting a record by about two seconds, clocking 1:52.10.

One of the best hurdlers in the state, Ankeny Centennial’s Riley Moss won the 4A 110 hurdles (14.02). He was also part of the winning 4x200 relay. 

New records were all set in the boys sprint medley relays, 1A-4A. 

In the 4A long jump, Darby Thomas of Abraham Lincoln tied the meet record (19-5).

Evan Correll, a freshman from Waukee, claimed the 100 (18.23) and 200 (36.53) wheelchair races.

RESULTS

Team Champions

Class 1A -- St. Albert, Council Bluffs boys 64 points; Danville girls 56 points

Class 2A -- Perkin boys 72; Mid-Prairie, Wellman girls 60

Class 3A -- Marion boys 69; Pella girls 70

Class 4A -- West Des Moines Valley boys 60; Waukee girls 122