The track team is off and running as both the girls and boys teams strive to reach new heights with returning and incoming athletes.

The track season has started off well with both young and old athletes surpassing expectations and achieving outstanding times.

“So far we have had some athletes already reach State qualifying times, and we have had some relays get close. We have a lot of young athletes taking varsity positions on our team, and they are doing very well,” said boys head coach Garret Degross.

Runners Titus Booker (100m), Alex Shulga (400m), Jake Hensley(800m), and Ryan Bruder (3200m) all have already reached state times, and the 4×400 relay team is currently placed 31st in the state. The future of the season continues to look promising for the boys track program.

“The athletes named above have been consistently performing at a high level so far this year, but the way we design our training program, everyone should be continuing to improve as the weeks go on. Our goal is to have our most impressive numbers by mid to late May,” Degross said.

The girls track team’s hard work has paid off, with their recent invitational placing as a sign of a bright season ahead of them.

“Every day we push and support each other to be the best we can be. This last weekend the girls track team placed sixth out of 14 teams at the Plainfield Relays Invitational which was a huge accomplishment,” said sophomore hurdler Allie O’Connell, a state qualifier from last year.

Along with their placing in the invitational, they have also beaten several records.
“We have scored some of the highest point totals in school history at some of our big invites. We have also already broken three school records!” said girls head coach Jesse Wolter.

Kennedy Krieg (High Jump – 5’0), Megan Reinhart (Triple Jump – 33’0) and Courtney Mensah (Discus – 103’11’’) have all broken school records.

Both the boys and girls teams have had their fair share of injuries, but once athletes return to full health, there is no slowing down.

“Relays and team scores are the best way of determining how strong a team is. While our team scores have not been as high as they can be, once we have a full healthy team, those numbers will improve,” Degross said.
The season for the girls will definitely improve with former state qualifier, Allie O’Connell, returning from her injury.

“Personally with the support of my teammates and coaches, they have helped me get back in the swing of things after my injury…I should be running at our next meet,” O’Connell said.

With athletes already reaching high times and scores, and more returning from past injuries, the track team looks very promising in the next half of the season.