DES MOINES — The 2026 Iowa high school track and field state championships concluded on May 23, and it was a successful three days for Ames-area schools at Drake Stadium.
Ames-area competitors did combine for 13 medals, including one gold medal, and they totaled 52 top-eight performances from May 21-23.
The Ames girls and Gilbert boys placed fourth in the team standings in their respective classes. The Little Cyclone girls scored 48 points in 4A, and the Tiger boys ended up with 49 points in 3A.
“Incredible,” said Ames coach Erica Lynn-Douglas. “We’ve risen to the moment and had our best performances when it’s mattered most.”
The Ames girls totaled six medals and 12 top-eight finishes.
Sophia Hatcher took second in the 4A girls long jump with a school-record jump of 18 feet, 11.5 inches. She also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a PR time of 14.17 seconds.
Ayak Akol, Elodie Biggs, Angelica Attinger and Emma Stanley each earned one bronze medal apiece. Akol and Biggs tied for third in the high jump with a 5-4 effort; Attinger ran a season-best 1:01.89 to earn bronze in the 400 hurdles and Stanley placed third in the 3,000 with a 9:48.39 showing.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames area schools bring home 13 medals at state track and field meet
