DES MOINES - Isaac Wendland's run into the sunset will happen late Saturday afternoon. It'll be his last chance to rise to the occasion as a Charles City athlete.

If Wendland can win the Class 3A 1,600 meters at the boys' state track meet, he'll become the first Iowa high school athlete to win the race four times.

Only five others have won any event that often, among them Iowa City High's Tim Dwight, who claimed the 200 meters from 1991 through 1994.

And Wendland's prep career will cross the finish line at the end of the 3A metric mile.

Entering the state met, the Comet distance man already owns three wins in the 1,600, two in the 800, a pair in the medley relay and one in the 4x400. That total could grow to 11 by late Saturday afternoon. In addition to the 1,600, he's running in the 800 plus the 4x800 and the medley relay.

So there will be emotion and high stakes swirling around Wendland.

"It's going to be an emotional last race," said Wendland, who will continue his track career at Liberty University next year. "I'm sure - I know - it won't be easy. There's runners who want to take that (1,600) from me. It's not guaranteed."

Wendland, though, expects to make those emotions work for him.

"I think it'll be a positive," he said. "I know it'll be my last race. I know the position I'll be in if I win it. I've just got to focus on the 800 (Saturday morning) and I can't worry about what happens in that race. Once I hit the mile, I've got to be focused. A lot of times I get too worried before a race - what if this happens or that happens or I don't feel good. I've realized that if I relax during the race and just enjoy it, it goes a lot better."

There won't be much down time for Wendland at state; there never is. Yet Wendland has been a high-speed workhorse at Drake Stadium before.

"I've just never had anyone with his recovery ability," said Charles City head track coach Bruce Eldridge.

While Wendland and Comet teammates work hard in 3A, Cedar Falls will be putting in plenty of track time during the 4A competition. And head coach Bob Schmidt thinks the payoff could be a Tigers' run at Iowa City West's team title.

"There are probably about five teams that have separated themselves from the others, and I think we're one of them," said Schmidt.

"I think we're around the mix. We have a chance. Like anybody else, we have to perform down there. But our kids have been very strong at the championship level. We certainly are thinking that way."

The Tigers backed up Schmidt's thinking with a 4x400 relay title at the Drake Relays. They'll be a contender in that event in the 4A state meet. Cedar Falls also owns the top regular season and district times in the medley relay.

Veterans Corey Albrecht, Jordan Velasquez and Drew Poland will be carrying the baton early and often over the three-day meet. But the Tigers are qualified in 15 of 18 events, meaning that balance will be a key.

"It could be an exciting weekend for these kids," said Schmidt.

It could also be an encore weekend for Terrance Roberts of Waterloo West. Roberts won the 4A 110-meter hurdles a year ago. Now, he appears to be coming on strong late in the year. Roberts posted the best district time with a 14.31, and he'll face a talented field. Including Roberts, four of the top six finishers in the 2007 110 highs return.

Fellow Wahawk TrayVonn Wright returns to the 4A high jump field equipped with a third-place effort a year ago.

Another metro standout could be a factor in Class 1A. David Nielsen of NU High, fourth at 3,200 meters a year ago, carries the No. 2 district time in the race. Nielsen also goes in the 1,600, where he was third in 2007.

Right now, no one's going faster in the high hurdles than Channing Puls of Hudson. The Pirate junior ran a crackling 14.15 Class 2A district time, the best in the state regardless of class.

"Channing told me in the beginning of the year that he'd be in the low 14s," said Hudson coach Mike Patton. "He practiced, worked on his technique and put in a lot of hurdles time. It's starting to show up."

Puls is a threat in the 2A long jump as well, where he sailed to the top district effort.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com

Starting blocks

A quick look at the 2008 boys' state track meet, which begins Thursday in Des Moines

Defending champions: West Des Moines Valley, Class 4A; Mount Pleasant, 3A: North Fayette and Iowa City Regina, 2A; BCLUW, 1A; Boone, wheelchair.

History class: Isaac Wendland of Charles City could become the first Iowa high school boy to win the 1,600 four times if he prevails in 3A. Only five others have won any event four straight times. They are:

Randy Thompson, Corwith-Wesley Luverne, 1A 100 dash, 1991-94

Nate Smith, West Hancock, 2A 100 dash, 1991-1994

Tim Dwight, Iowa City High, 4A 200, 1991-1994

Rob Brock, Dubuque Senior, 4A 3,200, 1994-97

E.J. Runyan, Johnston, wheelchair 100, 200, 800, discus, 1997-2000.

Caution to the wind: While district times can be a measuring stick as well as a state qualifier, Dike-New Hartford coach Barry Cuvelier pointed out that the high winds and rain that hit Iowa over the weekend may have affected teams differently.

"It depends on where the districts were run and whether the track was set up north and south or east-west," said Cuvelier. "That may have inhibited some of the times."