Girls track and field lands best finish since 1996 behind Frandsen’s three golds

The Little Cyclones entered the week with aspirations of landing the program’s sixth team state championship in the sport, but fell just short after a tight battle with Waukee Northwest.

However, Ames did land the program’s best finish since winning the team title in 1996 by taking second place, seven points ahead of third-place Dowling Catholic.

Just three weeks after stepping into the spotlight with a pair of Drake Relays hurdles titles, Ali Frandsen again swept gold in the individual hurdles events. In the 100 M Hurdles prelims, Frandsen recorded a new state meet record by running a 14.08. Frandsen would record a 14.10 in the finals to win a pink flag and gold medal. In the 400 M Hurdles, Frandsen recorded a 1:01.98 to win the title in that event. At Drake, Frandsen clocked in at 1:01.16, the third-best time in the United States.

In the Shuttle Hurdle Relay, Frandsen anchored the Little Cyclones squad of Angelica Attinger-Ireland Buss-Alina Markutsya to silver in a team time of 1:02.98.

Frandsen would end her prep career by anchoring the Ames state champion 4×400 M Relay team (Cameron Moon-Saylor Horras-Ellie Lynch-Ali Frandsen). The mark of 3:49.49 is the second-fastest all-time in Iowa and places No. 32 on the national leaderboard. It shattered the squad’s previous school record (3:53.66) by more than four seconds and sent Moon, Lynch, Frandsen out with gold in their final high school race.

“I knew that if I stepped up and did what I needed to do I’d have a good result,” Frandsen told the Ames Tribune. “I did that. I’m proud of myself for finishing it off.”

The Ames all-senior 4×200 M Relay squad of Ireland Buss-Elaina Deardorff-Ellie Lynch-Cameron Moon took home silver with a time of 1:42.47.

The Little Cyclones collected bronze in a pair of events: the 4×100 M Relay team of Ireland Buss-Ellie Lynch-Sophia Hatcher-Asia Ross captured third-place in the event with a time of 48.72. Cameron Moon clocked 25.00 in the 200 M Dash to capture a bronze medal.

The 2023 campaign saw a total of eight new school records broken to compliment the team taking home the state runner-up trophy.

“I’ve been with these girls my whole life,” Moon told the Ames Tribune. “It’s kind of sad to see that come to a close. But I’m really proud of everything we’ve accomplished. I think we really left a legacy at Ames High.”

AMES HIGH 2023 STATE MEET SCORING (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for top-eight finishes)

• 10 points | 100 M Hurdles (Ali Frandsen, 14.10)
• 10 points | 400 M Hurdles (Ali Frandsen, 1:01.98)
• 10 points | 4×400 M Relay (Cameron Moon-Saylor Horras-Ellie Lynch, Ali Frandsen, 3:49.49)
• 8 points | Shuttle Hurdle Relay (Angelica Attinger-Ireland Buss-Alina Markutsya-Ali Frandsen, 1:02.98)
• 8 points | 4×200 M Relay (Ireland Buss-Elaina Deardorff-Ellie Lynch-Cameron Moon, 1:42.47)
• 6 points | 4×100 M Relay (Ireland Buss-Ellie Lynch-Sophia Hatcher-Asia Ross, 48.72)
• 6 points | 200 M Dash (Cameron Moon, 25.00)
• 4 points | 3000 M Run (Marley Turk, 10:03.21)
• 2 points | 1500 M Run (Marley Turk, 4:39.16)
• 2 points | Sprint Medley Relay (Asia Ross-Elaina Deardorff-Sophia Hatcher-Ellie Lynch, 1:48.30)
• 1 point | Distance Medley Relay (Ireland Buss-Elaina Deardorff-Sophia Hatcher-Marley Turk, 4:10.48)
• 1 point | High Jump (Anisa Percival, 5-02.00)
• 1 point | 400 M Dash (Cameron Moon, 58.62)

STATE MEET RESULTS: https://results.wayzatatiming.com/meets/25654