By Douglas Miles
The Lone Tree girls' track and field coaching position had been a topic in the Shield household for some time.
Several coaches have come and gone in recent years, and Chad Shield felt he could provide some stability to the program. Once the availability of the post coincided with the arrival of a talented freshmen class – including his daughter, Rylee – the decision became very simple.
"It has been a blast," Chad Shield said after the Lions finished third overall at the newly-branded Mike Kautz Invitational Monday at Lone Tree High School. "Our girls have been outstanding. I am just really pleased with the effort they give, day in and day out."
The meet was renamed this year in honor of the architect of the Lone Tree girls' track and field program. Kautz – an Iowa Association of Track Coaches Hall of Fame member – coached the Lions for 44 years before passing away in 2016.
Lone Tree eclipsed the century mark in points (111) for the first time this season. The third-place finish comes on the heels of a win in the WACO Relays April 5 and a second-place performance at the Belle Plaine Coed Meet April 1.
"That is what we want. To build our program back to that level," Shield said. "He set that bar and telling our girls about the proud tradition and history that Lone Tree girls' track has, that strives us. Tonight we wanted to run for Coach Kautz and make him proud. I think that is exactly what we accomplished."
Rylee Shield had a fantastic meet in the sprint events for the Lions. In between a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash (13.62 seconds) and a runner-up performance in the 200 (28.21), she won the 400 in 1:04.75.
"I am just trying to go out there and try my best and give it all I have got," Rylee Shield said. "400, it is a hard race to sprint that whole thing, but I just give it all I've got and they are really fun."
All three times were season bests for Rylee, who capped the night in style by anchoring a win the 1600 relay in 4:42.53 with freshmen teammates Vivian Zaruba and Cate Sexton, plus senior Lexi Norris.
"She is doing a good job," Chad Shield said. "She has got the right mindset. She always has. She is a pretty mentally-tough kid. Works extremely hard. She has pretty high aspirations and pretty high goals, so it is our job to help her meet or exceed them."
One of goals Rylee has her eyes fixed on is the school record in the 400, which she can reach by trimming less than five seconds off her season best. The pursuit of personal and team goals, plus the satisfaction of early success in her debut varsity season has been enhanced by the joy of competing for her dad.
"So much fun," Rylee Shield said. "He is so inspiring to me and I look up to him so much. He is such a great role model, so it is really exciting that he is our track coach."
Zaruba finished second in the 800 run (2:53.00) and third in the 1600 (13:05.97), while senior Kasey Chown was the runner-up in the high jump (4-08.00) and senior Kinley Hayes placed third in the shot put (28-02.50). The Lone Tree relay units also added a second-place finish in the 800 relay, plus a trio of third-place outings in the 400, sprint medley and distance medley.
Wapello won the girls' team title with 153 points, while Mid-Prairie claimed second (121) with a lineup almost primarily consisting of junior-varsity competitors. One notable exception was sophomore Danielle Hostetler, the defending state champion in both the 1500 run and the 3000. In her first action of the season, Hostetler easily won the 1500 in 4:53.67.
The Highland girls placed fourth overall with 81 points, highlighted by a pair of wins in field events. Sophomore Sarah Burton – the Class 1A leader in the long jump at 17-02.25 – claimed the meet crown with a jump of 15-09.50.
After sustaining a strained muscle and possible hairline fracture in her right leg while playing club volleyball, Burton has now been at full strength for a couple of weeks.
"I try not to think about it, I honestly just go up to the board, run and I know to jump high," said Burton, who finished 11th at state in the long jump last season as a freshman. "Because my speed will eventually carry me. ... I am trying to build up my speed as I go down the runway. Not just in that, but in relays, too."
Highland junior Jessica Kraus placed second in the shot put (28-06.00), then bettered her season-best throw in the discus by more than 12 feet and won with a mark of 95-10.
"That event is so technical," Highland Coach Angela Strobel said. "There are just so many things that could go wrong in that little two seconds of time and she is willing to put in the work to work on each little component of that."
Hillcrest Academy freshman Delaney Shaw had the two best outings for the Ravens with a pair of third-place finishes in the 400 dash and long jump.
Columbus Junction won the boys' team title with 150 points, while the Mid-Prairie junior varsity squad placed third (120).
The Lone Tree boys finished fourth with 80 points and were paced by senior Cade Patterson, who won the 400 hurdles in 1:01.45, was third in the 110 hurdles and helped the Lions to a runner-up finish in the shuttle hurdle relay. Junior Ethan Willoz was runner-up in the 110 hurdles.
Connor Grinstead led the way for fifth-place Highland (67) by placing third in the 100 dash and helping the Huskies win the 800 relay, place second in both the 400 relay and sprint medley relay. Highland also notched a pair of second-place performances in field events from senior Devin Lovetinsky (shot put) and junior Logan Bonebrake (high jump).
Full Results
