Ari Hendrix, 36, found out about her talent for distance running almost by a fluke. She’d played basketball in college but signed up for a marathon after graduation to honor her late father.

Pell Christian's Rachel Kacmarynski and Meredith Van Wyk are two of the top sprinters back in the state this year after winning medals at state track last season. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames ...