On track: Breaking down Iowa prospects’ success in track
Where stats and accolades don’t tell the full story of a recruit, track and field might just fill in the blanks. The spring track and field season is on hold in Iowa, but a closer look at running, jumping and…
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Continue ReadingWhere stats and accolades don’t tell the full story of a recruit, track and field might just fill in the blanks.
The spring track and field season is on hold in Iowa, but a closer look at running, jumping and throwing totals is a way to gauge raw athleticism in Hawkeye State prospects. Using QuikStatsIowa.com, PrepDig cross-referenced its rankings with how recruits fared on the track.
A few things worth noting:
- We used QuikStats’ figures from the 2019 track season because it represents the most recent, comprehensive data set. While Iowa indoor track season was underway just prior to the shutdown of sports, not every high school had participated in meets, which would’ve excluded athletes on the list.
- Since the numbers are from 2019, it’s important to keep in mind that the athletes listed posted these numbers when they were a year younger. So track numbers on the 2020 senior class were compiled when those athletes were juniors. This also explains why 2023 athletes are not represented (since, as freshmen, they have yet to undergo a full track season).
- Lastly, for the sake of winnowing down the athletes, PrepDig only looked at prospects whose track numbers were top five on their high school team for the 2019 season. That said, this article still breaks down over 100 players from Iowa.
What can these events tell us? A few things beyond obvious athletic traits. Volleyball is a sport that’s keen on high vertical numbers, which could make athletes with strong high jump and long jump numbers quite desirable. But running and throwing events are also indicators of useful traits in volleyball.
A successful shot put or discus thrower, for example, obviously showcases of upper body strength, but those events also point to coordination — the athlete’s ability to spin and propel an object while maintaining balance. Strong hurdlers and sprinters demonstrate not just speed, but core strength, coordination, quick burst. And it’s easy to see how a player who’s used to running long distances would have the stamina to endure a long, grueling five-set match collegiately.
Overall, regardless of the event an athlete participates in, track and field is a great indicator of fitness. Not only are these players making waves on a volleyball court. They’re also training their raw physical traits to be among the fastest, strongest and highest-flying athletes in Iowa each year.
Track performance doesn’t tell the whole story, warns April Elsbernd, head coach of the University of Dubuque (which has made the last two NCAA Division III national tournaments). Along with raw athleticism, coaches want to see strong mechanics and a willingness to fine-tune fundamentals on the court. Nonetheless, track is a tool coaches sometimes use, including Elsbernd.
“I do think any type of good numbers for jumping in track shows raw talent and future potential,” she said. “But in the long run, if they don’t have the mechanics but are athletic, they have to be working hard to take their volleyball skills to the next level. Being athletic can get you a look, but if you aren’t willing to put in the time to focus on the fundamentals, athleticism isn’t enough.”
Here is a look at Iowa athletes in our rankings for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes: