The 2026 Iowa high school track season has begun and it’s time to list the top athletes from the Iowa City area.
From state champions to worthy contenders, here are the top 10 competitors to watch as the outdoor season gets underway.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
James Barnett, Soph., Iowa City West
One of the top throwers at West, Barnett took third (53 feet, 11 inches) in the 4A shot put at the state meet last season. He placed fourth with a score of 55 feet, 11 inches in the same event at the 2025 Drake Relays.
Abigail Burns, Sr., Iowa City High
Burns placed 14th in the 800 at the state meet last season. She was also a member of the state qualifying 4×800 and sprint medley relay teams in 4A.
Keegan Decker, Jr., Iowa City Liberty
As a sophomore, Decker earned fifth place (4:13.64) in the 1600 at state. He also placed fifth in the 3200 (9:05.11) at the Drake Relays.
Rachel Haack, Sr., Iowa City High
Haack placed fourth in both the discus (137 feet, 0.5 inches) and shot put (42 feet, 3.50 inches) at state last season. She also placed seventh in discus and eighth in shot put at the Drake Relays.
Elite Mbulekoya, Sr., Iowa City West
Mbulekoya finished in eighth place (157 feet, 10.50 inches) in discus at the Drake Relays last season. He earned eighth place in the same event at state (155 feet, 07 inches).
Reese Naeve, Sr., Iowa City Regina
An Iowa State volleyball recruit, Naeve placed third at state (15.09) in the 100 hurdles in Class 2A.
Aren Schlemme, Sr., Clear Creek Amana
Schlemme won a long jump state title in 3A in 2024. He placed 12th in the same event at the Drake Relays last season.
Tay Seals, Jr., Clear Creek Amana
Seals had a stellar sophomore run last season. Individually, he clinched a 3A state title in the 110 hurdles with a time of 13.58. He was a member of the 4×110 shuttle hurdle relay team that won gold at state.
Alexi Thigpen, Sr., Iowa City Liberty
Thigpen placed fifth (17 feet, 7 inches) in the long jump at the Drake Relays last season. She went on to place fourth (17 feet, 3.25 inches) in the same event at state in 4A.
Colin Whitters, Sr., Iowa City West
Whitters won a state title in the shot put with a throw of 57 feet, 11.25 inches in 4A last season. The Iowa football recruit also placed second in discus (169 feet, 0.9 inches). He also placed third in discus at the Drake Relays as a junior.
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: 10 Iowa City-area Iowa high school track and field stars to watch in 2026
Reporting by Marc Ray, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
