Clarke, Labs star; Benton rolls

Benton Community's Emmy Thompson won the 100-meter dash and the long jump at the Marion Invitational girls' track meet Thursday at Thomas Park Field (Gazette photo by Chris Mackler)

MARION — There isn’t a track in Springville, but there is a track team.

And on that track team is a gifted track athlete.

Brittany Clarke was a triple-winner at the Marion Invitational girls’ meet Thursday at Thomas Park Field, capturing 200- and 400-meter titles and bringing the Orioles from behind in the 400-meter relay.

Recruiting Web site: Barnes is No. 1

According to scout.com, Ames’ Harrison Barnes is the top-ranked boys’ basketball recruit in the country in the Class of 2010.

Barnes led the Little Cyclones to the Class 4A state championship in March. According to the Web site, Iowa State is still on Barnes’ list of 12 schools under consideration. The list also features Duke, North Carolina and Kansas.

Girls’ soccer pairings: Coming soon

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will release regional soccer pairings Friday.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5-0) remains the top-ranked team in Class 2A. Linn-Mar, Iowa City West and Cedar Rapids Jefferson are seventh, eighth and ninth.

Dallas Center-Grimes has replaced Cedar Rapids Xavier at No. 1 in 1A. The Saints are second.

MVC soccer standings

(Through Saturday)

BOYS MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Iowa City West  6-0  9-1

Cedar Rapids Kennedy  5-1  6-1

Cedar Rapids Xavier  5-1  6-2

Iowa City High  4-2  4-5

Waterloo West  3-3  8-3

Dubuque Hempstead  2-4  2-4

Dubuque Wahlert  1-5  1-5

BOYS VALLEY DIVISION

Cedar Rapids Washington  5-1  8-2

Cedar Rapids Jefferson  4-2  6-3

Cedar Rapids Prairie  3-3  9-3

Linn-Mar  2-4  3-6

Cedar Falls  1-5  4-6-1

Dubuque Senior  1-5  1-6

Waterloo East  0-6  0-9

GIRLS MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Cedar Rapids Kennedy  4-0  4-0

Iowa City West  3-1  4-1

Cedar Rapids Xavier  3-1  5-2

Dubuque Hempstead  2-2  2-3

Iowa City High  1-3  2-5

Waterloo West  0-4  0-5

Dubuque Wahlert  0-4  0-6

GIRLS VALLEY DIVISION

Linn-Mar  4-0  4-0

Cedar Rapids Jefferson  3-1  6-1

Cedar Rapids Washington  3-1  4-1

Cedar Rapids Prairie  3-1  3-1

Cedar Falls  2-2  4-3

Dubuque Senior  0-4  1-6

Waterloo East  0-4  0-4

Kingston update

They've ripped out all the bleachers at Kingston Stadium. I think these would be a bit uncomfortable. (Photo by Jeff Linder)

New lights will be installed at Kingston Stadium next week. (Photo by Jeff Linder)

The bleachers are ripped out from the stands. Tractors are running, and the lights (which will be more than twice as strong as the old ones) should be up sometime next week, according to school official Matt Dunbar.

Dunbar said everything is “pretty much on schedule.”

A worker smooths the surface at Kingston Stadium. Field Turf will be placed on the rock. (Photo by Jeff Linder)

The Hansons are back at Dowling

The Des Moines Register reports that Bob and Sharon Hanson are returning to West Des Moines Dowling to coach girls’ basketball.

The husband and wife led the Maroons to four state titles between 1992 and 2000. They also won a title at Des Moines East in 1979.

Softball adaptation: 7 mins. of infield

They’re bringing back the option to take infield before softball games this season:

From the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s rule adaptations for 2009:

“For regular season dual competition and regional tournament, both teams are allowed to take infield practice on the actual playing diamond.  There is a seven minute limit.  The timing shall be done by the home management—preferably by the PA Announcer or scoreboard operator.  A reminder shall be issued with one minute remaining.   A team still has the option of hitting ground balls in front of their dugout in foul territory during their seven minute warm-up time if they prefer.  But both teams must be afforded the opportunity to use the playing diamond for their seven minutes if they choose.  Regular season tournaments and sub-varsity warm-up protocol remains at the discretion of the home management. “

Showalter selected to coach national team

Mid-Prairie boys' basketball coach Don Showalter, here leading players through drills, has been named the head coach for a USA Basketball 16-and-under national team. (Gazette file photo)

Mid-Prairie boys’ basketball coach Don Showalter has been selected head coach for the 2009-10 USA Basketball boys’ 16-and-under boys’ developmental national team.

“As you can imagine, this is a really exciting time for me,” Showalter said. “As a coach, when you reach the highest level of coaching you can reach, which for me is being the national team coach for the high school level, is a tremendous honor.  I’m very excited about it. Working with USA Basketball has been a great experience for me in the past.”

Broghammer, Berinobis sign with UIU

Carl Broghammer of West Delaware and Karina Berinobis of Starmont have signed national letters of intent to compete at Upper Iowa University.

Broghammer was a state wrestling champion at 189 pounds and posted a 40-1 record last season and finished with a career record of 98-19.

Berinobis is a 5-foot-7 guard for the Starmont girls’ basketball team. She was a Tri-Rivers Conference all-conference performer.

Update on Xavier coaching search

Cedar Rapids Xavier has begun the process in seeking a boys’ basketball coach.

Athletics director Mike Winker said the school began running ads in several newspapers last weekend. He said he had some applications, but declined to name names.

He said he wanted a coach in place “as soon as possible, certainly before school is out.”

Joe Barrer stepped down after one season at Xavier, taking the head position at Davenport Assumption, his alma mater.