A 10-time Iowa state track and field champion, a seven-time Drake Relays champion, the all-time record holder in the 800 and 1600 for the state of Iowa and setting the top time ever for a high school junior nationwide in the 1600.
That’s the list of accomplishments Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman leaves behind in the state of Iowa as his high school career comes to a close. Before he departs for the University of Oregon, his standout times and trademark kick in the final 400 meters established him as one of the best track athletes Iowa has ever seen, particularly in distance events.
As he crossed the finish line for the last time, he did so as a winner in the Class 3A 1600-meter run (4:08.16). His best friend, Pella’s Canaan Dunham, took second (4:11.23) and interlocked arms to bow to a standing ovation crowd.
In his final state track meet, Nauman finished with a state title in the 1600 and the 3200, while taking second in the 800 and third in the distance medley. He didn’t get all that he wanted or sweep state titles in all his events like he’s done before, but the Iowa track and field community still made sure to shower him with praise one last time.
“I had the two worst races ever and it’s so awesome the fans that show up and say, ‘Hey, good luck Quentin,’ still hyping me up,” Nauman said. “I’m like, ‘Guys, I lost my two races. I’m disappointed. I want to be mad.’ The track community is not allowing me to be sad and sulk on it.”
For as much as Nauman can relish in his own success, his legacy is much more than winning Drake Relays and state titles or setting records. It’s for pushing the limits of what was ever thought possible for distance running in the state of Iowa.
“I’m just curious what my limits are,” Nauman said.
Nauman’s legacy in Iowa is taking distance running in Iowa to all-time highs
On day one of the 2026 Iowa state track and field meet, Bettendorf’s AJ Willey set the tone in the Class 4A 3200 with an all-time record of 8:49.65 seconds. It’s the first time in Iowa history someone had run the event in under 8:50. Additonally, the next three finishers in the heat rounded out the top four times ever in the state.
Nauman ran later in the afternoon for the 3200, winning the Class 3A state title at 8:54. As a result, the 3200 will be the lone distance event record Nauman will leave high school track and field without owning, but it’s hardly a disappointment as Nauman was just thrilled to see such a feat in his home state.
“I just said, ‘Holy s—,'” Nauman said.
“It’s amazing to see them throw down times. Iowa just keeps growing as a whole and I’m all for it,” Nauman added.
Rather than any title he has won or record he has set, how far distance running in Iowa during his time as a high schooler is where Nauman takes the most pride.
The IHSAA record book in the 800, 1600 and 3200 are littered with recent all-time bests. Three of the 800’s top-five times ever are from the 2025 or 2026 seasons. In the 1600, four of the top 10 best times are from 2024 or later. For the 3200, the top four times came from this year’s Class 4A heat. In this golden age, Nauman has been the standard, but others have been right behind him to push distance running to new heights in Iowa. As Nauman set records, others strode to be right alongside him.
There’s hardly a better example than his best friend Dunham. The star distance runner is headed to the University of Tulsa to compete in college at the Division I level and one of the best distance running colleges in the nation. Even so, competing in the same class as Nauman, he’s more often than not finished behind Nauman in his career.
That changed on the final day of the Iowa state track and field meet, when Dunham edged out Nauman for the Class 3A 800 title with a time of 1:50.61 to Nauman’s 1:51.22. Even then, Nauman was the first to congratulate Dunham after finishing and sat with him on the podium to discuss the race after.
There’s not an ounce of animosity about the losses for Dunham. In fact, since they began competing against one another for the first time as eighth graders at the Drake Relays, the two have become best friends. After defeating Nauman, all Dunham could think about was the three-mile cool down they’d go on at the end of the day, where he says they’d inevitably get lost somewhere in Des Moines before returning to the track.
“Being able to compete with Quentin, he’s the best ever,” Dunham said. “I love being able to run with him and be able to train with him. Iron sharpens iron, we keep making each other better.”
That feeling is mutual for Nauman, who respects not only the lengths they have gotten better with each other, but for the friendship curated despite fierce competition.
“He never treated me differently,” Nauman said. “Even when I started winning, he still treated me the same. I think that’s something that Iowa should love him for.”
Nauman didn’t end his final state track meet how he wanted, taking third in the distance medley and second in the 800 to Dunham. Regardless, winning the Class 3A 3200 state title at 8:54 made him just the sixth Iowan to win the 3200 or two-mile state event three or more times in a high school career and the 10th in the 1600 or one-mile event to accomplish the same feat.
Regardless of the final result, what Nauman leaves behind is more than his accolades, but for how far he took distance running in Iowa with him. Not just the times, but by stealing the show routinely at track meets over the last four years. While sprint events normally stole the front page and the attention of fans at Drake Stadium, Nauman made all of the Blue Oval put their phones down and turn their heads each time he took the track.
As he turns his attention to thrilling fans in the track and field capital of the world in Eugene, Oregon, he’ll leave behind a memorable legacy for fans in Iowa. But for everything he gave, he’ll note he got it back tenfold from the distance running community he built in his home state.
“I love Iowa, I love my fans,” Nauman said. “Honestly, I’m not who I am without my fans. They support me. It’s Midwest support that I really love and I’m going to definitely miss as I head out West.”
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: Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman leaves behind historic legacy in Iowa
Reporting by Eli McKown, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
