Elite girls sprinters hope to carry Ames High to Drake Relays and IGHSAU state titles

Two years ago, the Ames girls track team brought home the Drake Cup.

Now they want it back.

The Little Cyclone girls enter the 2023 Drake Relays this week on a mission. Neither Drake, nor the state meet, went how they wanted in 2022.

The Little Cyclones failed to win a relay at Drake and after placing third in Class 4A at state in 2021, they slipped to sixth last spring. That has a talented group of seniors out for redemption.

“I’m running with a chip on my shoulder and I think we all are after the way things shook out last year,” said Ames senior hurdler/sprinter Ali Frandsen. “A lot of little things didn’t go our way. We want to come back this year stronger than ever.”

The Little Cyclones are on the right track in 2023.

According to Varsity Bound, Frandsen has the fastest 100 and 400-meter hurdle times in the state. She ran a time of 14.37 seconds in the 100 hurdles and a 1:02.46 in the 400.

“So far this year hurdles have been going well,” Frandsen said. “I’m excited to compete and score points for our team in those races.”

Ames also has four sprint relay teams that are making a name for themselves. According to VB, Ames ranks second in the state in the 4x200, third in the 4x400, fourth in the 4x100 and fifth in the sprint medley.

Those relay teams are led by three of the runners that helped them win the Drake Cup two years ago in future Division I athletes Cameron Moon (Iowa State women's track), Ellie Lynch (Iowa softball) and Ireland Buss (Iowa State softball).

Frandsen and Elaina Deardorff are two more seniors with Drake Relays experience who will figure into the relay mix at this year's event.

“They’re doing incredible,” said Ames coach Erica Lynn Douglas said. “Ali’s made her name in the hurdles and she’s a huge asset in our 4x400. We don’t get very far without Ireland Buss. She’s a big deal. Elaina has made herself very versatile. She loves relays, but she’s shown her strength and how she can fit in anywhere. When Ellie and Cameron are on a relay you know it’s going to be fast.”

More: Top 10 Ames-area Iowa high school girls track and field athletes ahead of the 2023 season

These runners have not only won at Drake, but they have won multiple Class 4A state relay championships over the last couple of years. That experience will come in handy this week in Des Moines.

“Having some experience running there has definitely made us more confident,” Moon said. “The schedule will definitely help balance our races. We are excited to compete for the Cup again our senior year.”

Moon and Lynch have been the go-to runners for Ames in relays. They both could have run at Drake in individual events — Moon in the 100 and 400 and Lynch in the 400 — but they decided to forgo them to concentrate on relays.

Buss, Deardorff and Fransen also bring unique talent to the track that enables Ames to go toe-to-toe with any sprint relay team in the state.

Buss ran the opening leg on last year's 4x200 state championship team and her outstanding burst off the blocks immediately gets Ames in a great position.

“I have a lot of experience with the gun and starting relays,” Lynch said. “My explosiveness really helps with block starts.”

Deardorff has been a jack-of-all-trades athlete for Ames.

“I just kind of go wherever they put me,” Deardorff said. “I help out the team any way I can. I’m willing to do anything.”

Frandsen has been immense in the 4x400 over the past two seasons.

“They’re motivated,” Lynn Douglas said. “They’ve accomplished a lot in their high school careers. Not just track, but all of their endeavors.”

Asia Ross is another senior capable of filling in a relay spot when needed. Ames also has several talented younger runners ready to step up.

Sophomore Saylor Horras has experience running at the Blue Oval and freshman sensation Sofia Hatcher has been a breakout star for the Little Cyclones. Hatcher qualified for Drake individually in the 100.

“We have a lot of young kids coming up that we’ve been working into our relays more,” Frandsen said. “Especially in the sprints. I’m excited to see what they can do and what we can put together.”

Ames also qualified for Drake in the shuttle hurdle relay. The Little Cyclone team of Frandsen, Buss, Elia Varghese and Angelica Attinger ran the third-fastest time in the state at 1:06.21 during the Jim Duea Invitational.

In distance events, sophomore Marley Turk will be running at Drake in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000. Turk also qualified for the girls elite mile, so she will likely run that and forgo the 1,500.

Claire Helmers will run in the 3,000 at Drake. The Ames girls qualified in the 4x800 as well, with the Turk sisters, (Marley and Sydney), Helmers, Charley Bleyle and Horras all possibilities to run that relay.

More: Ames distance runner Marley Turk powers through injuries and is striving for new goals

As much as the Little Cyclones want to win the Drake Cup, it is not their end goal.

“It’s a big meet,” Lynch said. “We want to go for the Drake Cup and get that back. But it’s also a stepping stone for state. A lot of things will change by state. We have a lot of room to improve.”

Ames wants to win the 4A team championship at the state co-ed meet in May.

“The state title is the one thing they really want to add to their accolades,” Lynn Douglas said. “They’re motivated, they work out together and make their goals together, which is exciting.”

But using Drake to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season isn't Lynn Douglas' primary goal this weekend.

“I know from my perspective that it’s not something they’re going to get to experience again on this level," Lynn Douglas said. "I want them to just be able to go into Drake and not feel any pressure. For me, I'm excited for them to have fun and enjoy the moment together."

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Elite girls sprinters have Ames looking tough ahead of Drake Relays