DES MOINES — The Ballard Bombers wrapped up an impressive three-day showing at the 2026 State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium, delivering standout performances, multiple school records, and a podium finish that capped off a weekend defined by progress across every event group.

From Thursday's opening events through Saturday's finals, Ballard athletes consistently rose to the occasion, producing season-best marks, career PRs, and clutch performances against the state's deepest competition.

Thursday: Strong Start Sets the Tone

The Bombers opened competition with a career-best performance from Kahra Lewis in the discus, who placed 20th with a throw of 111-00.00 feet, improving four spots from her seed and marking a personal milestone in her first state meet appearance.

On the track, the boys' shuttle hurdle relay of Chase Ihle, Aiden Wilson, Curtis Hinzman, and Stetson Kane advanced to the finals in commanding fashion, clocking 58.74 to qualify third overall. All four athletes ran consistent splits in the 14-second range, setting the stage for a strong finish later in the weekend.

The girls' 4x800 relay (Raya Miller, Brooklyn Shoen, Kya Hermann, Avilee Miller) finished 14th in 9:49.52, improving their season best by a wide margin and moving up six places from their seed. Each runner contributed to a season-defining effort that showed the group's long-term potential.

The boys' 4x800 relay (Austin Vance, Axton Campbell, Declan O'Brien, Graden Hermann) matched that momentum, finishing 14th in 8:15.40 with another season best and a strong climb up the standings.

The opening day was highlighted by junior Jace Ortner, who earned Ballard's first medal of the meet, placing 8th in the 400 meters in 49.63.

Friday: Records Fall and Finals Spots Earned

Friday saw Ballard continue its upward trajectory, beginning with a school record in the boys' distance medley relay. Liam Hurst, Aiden Wilson, Ortner, and Hermann combined for a 3:35.35 performance to place 10th overall, rewriting the record books behind strong legs from all four athletes.

In hurdles action, Makiya Culbertson placed 14th in the 100-meter hurdles (15.83), gaining valuable experience in her sophomore state appearance, while Stetson Kane finished 11th in the 110 hurdles (15.05), narrowly missing finals in a deep field.

The girls' sprint group also made history, as the 4x200 relay of Emefa Van Loo, Hailey Conover, Kaitlyn Dunn, and Brooklyn Shoen set a new school record of 1:46.48 to place 18th.

In the 400 hurdles, Shoen placed 16th (1:08.77) in the program's return to the event after more than a decade, continuing a breakthrough season in the discipline.

The girls' 4x400 relay (Dunn, Kinzenbaw, Jorgensen, Shoen) added another school record, running 4:04.57 to place 14th, with an all-freshman lineup showing major long-term promise.

The boys' 4x400 relay (Leland, Campbell, Hermann, Ortner) closed Friday by qualifying for the finals in 7th place with a 3:22.42, highlighted by a 48-second anchor leg from Ortner.

Saturday: Podium Finish Caps the Weekend

Saturday began with another season best in the girls' sprint medley relay, where Van Loo, Culbertson, Dunn, and Kinzenbaw finished 23rd in 1:54.58.

The boys' sprint medley team (Leland, Wilson, Hurst, Campbell) followed with a strong 18th-place finish in 1:35.34, competing well against elite state competition.

The highlight of the day came in the boys' shuttle hurdle relay final, where Ihle, Wilson, Hinzman, and Kane delivered under pressure. Running a blistering 58.48, the Bombers secured 3rd place overall and a state podium finish. Senior anchors Ihle and Kane helped close out a standout relay career in style.

In the 1500 meters, Avilee Miller capped her season with a career-best 4:54.43 to place 15th, continuing a strong freshman campaign on the blue oval.

The meet concluded with the boys' 4x400 relay finals, where Leland, Hermann, Campbell, and Ortner improved again to finish 8th in 3:22.08. Ortner anchored in 49.56 to secure another podium finish and close his meet with multiple medals.

Final Reflection

Across three days at Drake Stadium, Ballard athletes combined for school records, personal bests, and multiple top-10 finishes, highlighted by a 3rd-place state medal in the boys' shuttle hurdle relay and an 8th-place finish in the 4x400 relay.

The Bombers also set three new school records — in the boys' distance medley relay, girls' 4x200 relay, and girls' 4x400 relay — while several underclassmen gained invaluable experience competing at the highest level.

With a young core returning across multiple relays and individual events, the weekend served not just as a successful conclusion to 2026, but as a strong foundation for what comes next.

Ballard leaves Drake Stadium with momentum, records, and a clear message: the program is trending upward.

Coaches' Comments

Women's Head Coach Scott Barth:
"From start to finish, this group competed with toughness and belief. We saw school records fall, freshmen step up on the biggest stage, and veteran leadership guide the way through a demanding three days. What stands out most is how this team embraced pressure and turned it into performance. The foundation we've built is strong, and the future of our girls' program is incredibly bright."

Men's Head Coach Darren Herrold:
"This was a weekend where our guys showed exactly what growth looks like. We had medal performances, multiple finals qualifications, and relay groups that just kept getting faster when it mattered most. The shuttle hurdle podium finish was a program highlight, but just as important was how our younger athletes handled their first experience at Drake. We're leaving here better, more confident, and hungry for what's next."