Who is the best men’s track and field athlete from Iowa?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
During this process, we will examine athletes in their respective sports. We started with football and wrestling, now we’ll move on to track and field. These are our selections for the track and field stars who defined Iowa. Many of the 10 athletes were standouts in their youth before reaching even greater heights at the collegiate and international levels.
Vote below on the best of these 10, or even write in a candidate that we overlooked or you feel strongly about.
Athletes listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Scott Crowell, Mason City
Crowell has held the Iowa high school discus record since 1978. His throw of 207-08 was a national prep record at the time. He went on to Iowa State, where he won a Big 8 and NCAA title in 1981 before injuries shortened his career. His NCAA outdoor title was the first-ever in ISU history.
Clyde Duncan, Des Moines North
A nine-time Iowa state champion, Duncan went on to have an incredible collegiate career as well. He earned the title of “fastest man alive” in 1965 as a freshman at Texas Southern. In his time there, Duncan held three World records in the 4×100, indoor mile relay and sprint medley.
His coaching career has continued to see him contribute to track and field, as he currently holds the head coach emeritus position at his alma mater and also coached at several other stops. One of those positions was as an assistant coach at the University of Houston, where he played a role in recruiting legendary Olympian Carl Lewis to the Cougars.
Tim Dwight, Iowa City High
Dwight is the all-time leader in Iowa state titles, not including wheelchair events, with 12 in his four years at Iowa City High. His 200-meter time in 1994 of 20.8 seconds (hand timed) is still the best-ever from an Iowa high schooler. Dwight went on to the University of Iowa, where he became a cult hero for his efforts on the track and gridiron with his blazing speed.
Al Feuerbach, Preston
Feuerbach began as a star thrower for Preston High School, winning state titles in discus and shot put. After becoming a four-time NAIA All-American for Emporia State in Kansas, Feuerbach had a storied career internationally. He was a three-time Olympian in 1972, 1976 and 1980, as well as a member of 12 different US National teams.
Frank Irons, Des Moines
The Des Moines native secured the premier honor of track and field back in 1908. His jump of 24-06.5 won him Olympic gold in the long jump. Irons also made the 1912 Olympic team for the United States.
Kip Janvrin, Panora-Linden
Janvrin is the decathlon king. He owns 15 Drake Relay Decathlon titles, including the Drake Relays record in points with 8,198 in 1996. He is the world record holder for the most decathlon wins in history with 41 and was the oldest US decathlete to ever compete in the Olympics at 35-years old. Janvrin also won a pole vault state title in 1984 and won three NCAA Division III titles at Simpson College. He is currently an assistant coach at Kansas State.
Doug Lane, Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Everyone is still chasing Doug Lane, the all-time record holder for Iowa high school track and field in shot put. His throw of 70-11 is still well over three feet farther than the next best attempt. He won six outdoor and six indoor state titles, followed by an NCAA title in 1972 at the University of Southern California.
Frederick Morgan Taylor, Sioux City
Not one, not two, but three Olympic medals are what Frederick Morgan Taylor earned in his career. He won Olympic gold in the 400 hurdles in 1924 with a time of 52.6 seconds. He took bronze in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics as well. Before that, with Grinnell College, he was a 1925 NCAA Champion in the 220-meter low hurdle event.
Quentin Nauman, Western Dubuque
Nauman still has another Iowa state track and field meet left in his career, but his accomplishments have already made him worthy of the top 10. The Oregon commit is the state’s all-time leader in the 800 (1:49.41) and the 1600-meter run (3:59.6). He is the only Iowan to ever go sub-four in the 1600 while in high school and recorded the fastest ever time by a high school junior in the United States in the event.
With eight state titles under his belt already, if he secured four championships at this year’s state meet as projected, he could tie Tim Dwight’s record and throw himself firmly in the mix as one of the best prep athletes ever in Iowa.
Randy Wilson, Knoxville
Wilson began his career in Knoxville, winning five state titles while in high school. Perhaps more impressively, he did so in the mile and in the high hurdles events. He went to the University of Oklahoma, where he became a five-time NCAA All-American, an indoor NCAA champion in the mile relay, a six-time Big 8 champion and a five-time Drake Relays champion. Wilson was also a member of the 1980 US Olympic team.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Who’s the best all-time men’s track & field athlete from Iowa? VOTE
Reporting by Eli McKown, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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