Cal Zahn, Webster City (2012-15)

Cal Zahn had two goals during his prep career at Webster City: A school record and a state title in the high jump. He accomplished both in 2015. A three-time Class 3A state medalist, he was third as a junior and then won the whole dang thing as a senior with a school-record leap of 6-6. He wasn’t tall, but he had hops for days.

Marcus Mecahelsen, Northeast Hamilton (2009-12)

Another sport, another All-Decade team for Marcus Mechaelsen. If you haven’t figured it out by now, the Northeast Hamilton legend was about as good an athlete as the area has had. His track and field career culminated in 2012 with a fourth-place medal in the Class 1A long jump. He soared 21 feet, 10 inches.

Marcus Mechaelsen, Northeast Hamilton.

Throws

Nick Erritt, Webster City (2009-12)

Part of Webster City’s surge to the Class 3A state runner-up team trophy in 2012, Nick Erritt provided fourth-place points in the shot put with a heave of 53 feet, 101⁄2 inches, the longest toss by an area thrower this decade. He was a two-time state qualifier in the event, the first coming in 2011 when he placed 15th.

James Cherry, Webster City (2015-18)

Big and agile, James Cherry was a versatile performer in the field events for Webster City. He was a Class 3A state qualifier in both the shot put and discus during his junior and senior seasons, but was unable to walk away with a medal. The closest he came was a ninth-place finish in the discus with a toss of 149 feet in 2017.

Nick Erritt, Webster City.

Sprints

Devin Howard, South Hamilton (2011-14)

Quiet, confident and fast. So, so fast. That was Devin Howard. He was a six-time Class 2A state qualifier and a six-time Class 2A state medalist in the 100 and 200 during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was the state runner-up in the 100 twice, and also accumulated two bronze medals. He never finished worse than fourth.

Keagan Parks, Webster City (2009-12)

Power and grace on the straightaway, Keagan Parks was one of a kind for Webster City, particularly as a senior when he led the Lynx to a Class 3A state runner-up finish. He won state titles in the 100 and 200 in 2012 and then anchored the 4×100 relay to gold as well with a closing leg you had to see to believe.

James Cherry, Webster City.

Middle Distance

Max Harfst, Webster City (2016-19)

There are times where state medals don’t tell the correct story. Max Harfst is proof. He was a two-time Class 3A state qualifier in the 800 for Webster City, but never finished better than 22nd. He would have and should have medaled in 2019 though, probably in the top five, but was tripped up by another runner at the 400-meter mark.

Conner Hill, South Hamilton (2019)

How good could Conner Hill have been had he run track for four years instead of one at South Hamilton? We’ll never know, but one year was pretty special. As a senior rookie in 2019, he was the missing piece on the Hawks’ Class 2A state title 4×800 relay, and also placed seventh in the open 800. One season, two state medals. Not bad.

Devin Howard, South Hamilton.

Distance

Logan Peters, South Hamilton (2016-19)

Middle distance or distance, Logan Peters was a no-brainer. He’s arguably the best South Hamilton has ever produced with eight career state medals, two of which are gold. He won the Class 2A 1,600-meter state crown in 2018 and was the leader of the Hawks’ winning 4×800 in 2019. He won five medals combined in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Quinton Grove, South Hamilton (2017-19)

The Glue Guy, that was Quinton Grove and very few runners have ever done it better. He was a two-time Class 2A state qualifier in the mile and ran on numerous state-qualifying relays. But he’ll always be remembered for his anchor leg of the 2019 4×800 relay. His refusal to lose gave South Hamilton the Class 2A state crown.

Keagan Parks, Webster City.

Hurdles

Triston Twedt, South Hamilton (2010-13)

The shock on Triston Twedt’s face when he crossed the finish line as the Class 2A state 400-meter hurdles champion in 2013 was priceless. But it shouldn’t have been a surprise. He was unbelievably good. Sixth as a junior for South Hamilton in 2012, he used great technique and speed to clock in a winning time of 54.02 seconds as a senior.

Andrew May, Webster City (2009-12)

If Keagan Parks was Batman for Webster City in 2012, then Andrew May was Robin. He was the Class 3A state runner-up in the 110 high hurdles, a race that was his until he clipped a late hurdle. He also qualified for state in the 400 low hurdles and the shuttle hurdle relay. He still holds the 110 highs school record and once held the 400 lows record.

Relays

Webster City 4×100 (2012)

Keagan Parks, Nathan Nuehring, Cal Zahn and Andrew May teamed up to win the Class 3A 4×100-meter state title with a time of 43.29 seconds in 2012. The mission of Nuehring, May and Zahn – get the baton cleanly Parks and then enjoy the show. The 100- and 200-meter state champion didn’t disappoint on the anchor.

South Hamilton 4×800 (2019)

From the first time Logan Peters, Conner Hill, Cole Berg and Quinton Grove ran together, it was clear South Hamilton had something special in the 4×800 relay. The Class 2A favorite entering the 2019 state meet, the quartet lived up to expectations with a school-record time of 8:01.23. They led all but maybe 30 meters of the 3,200-meter race.

Max Harfst, Webster City.

Conner Hill, South Hamilton.

Logan Peters, South Hamilton.

Quinton Grove, South Hamilton.

Triston Twedt, South Hamilton.

Andrew May, Webster City.

Webster City 4x100 relay, 2012. Keagan Parks, Nathan Nuehring, Cal Zahn and Andrew May.

South Hamilton 4x800 relay, 2019. Logan Peters, Conner Hill, Cole Berg and Quinton Grove.