The countdown of Norwalk’s top 10 sports stories from the 2024-25 school year continues today with number 7. The Warrior boys track and field squad put together another outstanding spring, showcasing both star power and depth en route to an 11th-place finish in Class 4A.

Norwalk qualified 13 entries in 12 events for the Drake Relays and took 15 entries in 13 events to the State Meet, setting eight indoor school records and nine outdoor records along the way. The Warriors earned medals in seven state meet events, scoring 24.5 points in Iowa’s largest class.

Sophomore Logan Atherton took home the team’s highest state medal, tying for third place in the high jump with a leap of six feet, five inches. Senior Tony Anania placed fifth in the 800 and seventh in the mile, junior Kaiden Kunze placed sixth in both the 200-meter dash and long jump, and senior Daniel Roche was sixth in the 400 hurdles with a ‘PR’ of 53.64. Norwalk’s 4×800 relay – consisting of AJ Mosqueda, Sam Parker, Grant Wallace and Anania – placed fifth with a season-best time of 7:44.17.

Anania, who was last year’s 4A state champion in the mile, tells KNIA Sports that he hopes his legacy on the program is inspiring younger athletes to stick with the sport of track and field until they find their own niche. 

“God gave me the ability to come out and compete for His glory,” said Anania. “First or last in a race, I do it for His glory, and I put a smile on my face because I know my family and coaches will be there for me right after [the race]. It means a lot. I don’t want to say I’m the best in Norwalk history, but hopefully that solidifies me as [one of] the best, and I hope there’s many more to follow.”

Anania, who will compete collegiately at the University of Kentucky, added that his scholarship means nothing without his Norwalk teammates that pushed him in practice every day and helped him to realize his potential in the sport.