Tracksters have first meet postponed; set to race again Tuesday
Sports | Published on April 1, 2024 at 12:18pm CDT
The Minnewaska Area track and field teams are hoping for another great season after sending seven athletes in nine events to the State Track Meet last spring.
The girls track team also placed third at the Section 5A Meet and first during the WCC Meet, while the boys team was fourth during the WCC Meet and 10th at sections.
Seniors lost to graduation from last year’s teams are Kiearra Wilmes, Makena Thoen, Serena Mellgren, McKenzie Luetmer, Miranda Longtin, Mya Lindemann, Brooke Kolstoe, Elsey Hagen, Conner Stein, James Ward, Hunter Kloos, Nick Ankeny, Jaden Anderson and Blake Andreas.
Back to lead the tracksters this spring are head coaches Jennifer Johnsrud (girls) and Zach Traphagen (boys), who are assisted by Linda Mills, Gabe Eisenbacher, Nathan Snider, Jacey Schlosser and Kayla Sorenson.
The Lakers were set to open up the season at an indoor meet at Concordia College last Tuesday, but that meet was called off due to weather. The new opener is set for Tuesday (tomorrow) at Concordia.
The first outdoor meet is set for Tuesday, April 9 at Morris, followed by the Litchfield Invitational, Thursday, April 11 and the Minnewaska Invitational, Tuesday, April 16.
One of the biggest changes for spring sports this year is track moving from Section 5A to Section 6A. And, that’s huge for the Lakers as EVW-Kimball and Holdingford were former competitors in Section 5A and field very strong track programs.
Earning a state trip for the boys last year was Maeson Tank (in the 400 and 800), while qualifying to state for the girls were McKenzie Luetmer, Lauryn Ankeny, Jayda Kolstoe, Olivia Danielson, Brooke Kolstoe and Teagan Stark.
Luetmer became the first Laker athlete to qualify to state in four events (TJ, 400, 1600 relay and 3200 relay), while Ankeny earned three state berths (300 hurdles, 1600 relay and 3200 relay), Jayda Kolstoe qualified in the shot put and discus, Olivia Danielson ran in two relays at state and Brooke Kolstoe (3200 relay) and Teagan Stark (1600 relay) both competed in one.
Ankeny had the top finish at the state meet last year, placing third in the 300 meter hurdles (46.46), which was just off her school-record time she set in the prelims, while Tank placed seventh in the 400 (51.39) and the 1600 meter relay, Jayda Kolstoe in the shot put and Luetmer in the 400 all finished ninth.
