Area Girls Hurdlers Shine at Sioux City Relays

Top finishers from the KICD 9-County Area at the annual track and field event

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:05pm

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Several schools from the KICD 9-County Area in northwest Iowa competed at the Sioux City Relays on Saturday, with standout performances from girls hurdlers. Okoboji's McKenzie Larsen and Spencer's Lucy Simington both qualified for the 100m Hurdles elite race, with Larsen finishing 3rd and Simington 7th. Other top finishers included Spencer's Lauren Stuckey in the 100m Hurdles and High Jump, MMCRU's Blake Barinsky in the 100m Dash, and Spencer's boys 4x800m Relay team.

Why it matters

The Sioux City Relays is a major annual track and field event that showcases the top talent from the KICD 9-County Area, providing an opportunity for athletes to compete against elite competition and qualify for state championships. Strong performances at this meet can be a springboard for success later in the season.

The details

In the Class B 100m Hurdles, Okoboji freshman McKenzie Larsen clocked 16.34 seconds to take 3rd place. In the Class A 100m Hurdles, Spencer's Lucy Simington won with a time of 17.48 seconds, while her teammate Lauren Stuckey placed 4th in 17.7 seconds. Larsen and Simington both qualified for the 100m Hurdles elite race, with Larsen finishing 3rd in 16.59 seconds and Simington 7th in 17.02 seconds. Other top finishers included MMCRU's Blake Barinsky taking 5th in the Boys 100m Dash, Spencer's boys 4x800m Relay team placing 4th, Spencer's Tate VonEhwegen winning the Boys 400m Dash, Spencer's girls 4x100m Shuttle Hurdle Relay team taking 3rd, and Spencer's Lauren Stuckey placing 4th in the Girls High Jump.

  • The Sioux City Relays were held on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

McKenzie Larsen

A freshman hurdler from Okoboji High School who placed 3rd in the Class B 100m Hurdles and 3rd in the 100m Hurdles elite race.

Lucy Simington

A hurdler from Spencer High School who won the Class A 100m Hurdles and placed 7th in the 100m Hurdles elite race.

Lauren Stuckey

A hurdler and high jumper from Spencer High School who placed 4th in the Class A 100m Hurdles and 4th in the Girls High Jump.

Blake Barinsky

A sprinter from MMCRU High School who placed 5th in the Boys 100m Dash.

Tate VonEhwegen

A runner from Spencer High School who won the Boys 400m Dash.

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What’s next

The top finishers from the Sioux City Relays will look to carry their momentum into the upcoming state track and field championships, where they will compete against the best athletes from across Iowa.

The takeaway

The strong performances by girls hurdlers from the KICD 9-County Area at the Sioux City Relays showcase the depth of talent in northwest Iowa track and field, with athletes from smaller schools like Okoboji and Spencer proving they can compete with the state's elite.