Boys, girls track teams begin season

More stories from Sonia Moran

The boys and girls track are sprinting their way in to the beginning on the season. Both teams are strong this year. The runners this year are focusing on training harder this season. The coaches are pushing the runners a lot harder this year. Despite their dedication this year, the teams goal’s remain the same: to go to state.

Last season the boys track ended the season 6th in state. Although the girls team was unable to participate as a whole, certain individuals were able to partake in the state meet.

This season there is a lot more hope for the track teams. Both teams are looking forward to improving their last years times. The teams goal is the make top five in state this year.

Senior Daniel Hammer is setting a high goal aiming for top three in state this year. “I’m looking forward to see our guys compete at state level and see how we stack up against the best runners in the state,” Hammer said.

Junior Lindsey Purrington is focusing on her personal goals this season. “My goals are to improve my times from last year, train harder, and have a positive outlook,” Purrington said.

Last year through a unique set of circumstances the boys track teams string of consecutive Section 4AA track and field titles and top five at State finishes was stopped at eight years in a row.  Additionally, the boys cross country team faded badly over the last mile at State last November.

Coach Scott Chirstensen from the boys track team set high expectations for the boys this season. Their goal is to win Section 4AA, True Team and have 8-10 running and field events entered in the Minnesota State Meet.

“For all the boys, I just want everybody performing at personal career best levels meet in and meet out,” Christensen said.

The girls track team is hoping to recover from last year. Since last years 4 x 4 team did not make it to state, coach Dawn Podolske’s goal is to get them there this year. The coaches are focusing on runners as individuals this year. They have goals as a team and they also have goals for each individual person.

“We have a great girls team with a lot of talent this year and the coaches want to push all of us to reach our personal goals.” Purrington added, “We want to get as many relays and people to state as we can to compete.”

With leadership, good coaching, long practice hours and teamwork the teams are sure to make their way to winning sections and hopefully have many team members participate in the state tournament.