Track Season Takes Off
by Brenna Collison
Track season officially started on Monday, March 5, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams and coaches began practice. Both teams together have seventy-seven people out for the sport, with forty-one returning letterwinners.
This year’s team is coached by head coach Tim Waldner, along with Melinda Stelling, Kyle Simmons, Gary Shada, Cory Valasek, Doug Shelton, and Juan Lopez.
Head coach Tim Waldner said, “Our biggest challenge this year will be the weather, and trying to fit people into the meets as we have lots of people out this year.” Coach Waldner believes that the team’s biggest strength this year is going to be their depth.
In getting prepared for this season, coach Waldner said, “We have been practicing on form and getting everyone back into the swing of things with track. We’ve also been working on getting everyone in shape.” The track team’s goals for this season are to win conference and qualify as many people for state as possible.
The Bluejays’ track teams’ first meet will be held on Tuesday, March 20, at the University of South Dakota for the Dan Lennon invitational. Coach Waldner is looking forward to their first competition, saying, “My goal isn’t to win right away. We need to be able to see where everyone is at with their events. This track meet is good for that, and it has great competition. It’s a good start.”
