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The standout performances from April 20–25 at meets across Iowa — especially the Drake Relays — produced a crowded field of contenders for High School on SI’s Iowa Athlete of the Week. Below are the nominees and how each athlete made their case; voting ends the night of May 3, so readers can help decide who takes the honor.
Nominees and notable results
- Ajak Malual, Waukee (boys track & field) — Cleared 7-0 to win the high jump at the Drake Relays on his second try.
- Kylee Hill, Burlington (girls track & field) — Took shot put gold at Drake with a best mark of 47-9.75, the only competitor beyond 46 feet.
- Charlee Gall, Cedar Falls (girls track & field) — Won the 3,000 in 9:34.75 at Drake and also captured the Elite High School Mile title.
- Stella Roemer, Pleasant Valley (girls golf) — Season lows of 72 (18 holes) and 35 (nine) place her among the state’s top scorers.
- Meadow Lane, Colfax‑Mingo (girls soccer) — Scored eight goals in a 9-2 rout of Marshalltown.
- Jace Tallmon, Glenwood (boys soccer) — Netted five goals and added an assist in a 10-0 win over Red Oak.
- Delilah Subsin, Ottumwa (girls track & field) — Claimed the discus title at Drake with a throw of 154-5, nearly seven feet clear of the field.
- Hayden Carlson, Ankeny (boys track & field) — Won the competitive 110 hurdles at Drake in 13.80.
- Cauy Konz, Treynor (boys track & field) — Captured the 100 at Drake with a time of 10.53.
- Kaiden Kunze, Norwalk (boys track & field) — A two-event winner at Drake: long jump (23-8.25) and the 400 (47.60).
- Katie Willits, Waukee Northwest (girls track & field) — Part of multiple record-setting relays at Drake and the individual 100 champion.
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Standouts to watch
Several athletes turned in performances that affect more than a single meet — they carry state-level implications. For example, throws by Kylee Hill and Delilah Subsin put them near the top of Iowa leaderboards, while sprint and jump marks from Cauy Konz and Kaiden Kunze suggest strong postseason potential.
Distance events at Drake were dominated by younger competitors as well: Charlee Gall won the 3,000 by a comfortable margin and added a mile title, signaling consistency across disciplines.
On the team-sports side, the goal tallies from Meadow Lane and Jace Tallmon were rare individual outbursts that also tilted their teams’ seasons.
How to vote and timeline
Polling closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 3. The athlete with the most votes will be announced the following week. Ballots are open to the public for this weekly selection.
Why this matters now: late‑April meets — especially the Drake Relays — are a natural barometer for who’s peaking as postseason play approaches, and the poll highlights those momentum shifts for athletes and programs alike.
About the Athlete of the Week poll
The voting is intended as a fan-driven way to celebrate notable high school performances across Iowa. Results reflect reader support and community interest, not an official award process administered by schools or state organizations. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, winning this poll does not carry a formal prize — it’s recognition from fans and peers.
All nominees are included to spotlight outstanding achievements; the weekly vote simply amplifies one standout effort based on reader response.
