By Mike Hassler
Track head coach
Boys Track
The Trojans return two state qualifiers from the 2022 Track and Field Squad. Seniors Cade Johnson and Ryan Anderson will look to lead the Trojans into the 2023 Season. Cade qualified for Omaha for the second consecutive year in three events. The events he competed in were Triple Jump, the 800 meter run, and the 1600 meter run. He was joined in Omaha by Ryan Anderson, who competed for the first time in the 3200 meter run. Both will be looking to make a return to Omaha this May. Senior Gael Sotello also returns in the High Jump where he was a consistent scorer for the Trojans in 2022.
Up and comers for the Trojans this season that will be looking to contribute in the team races will come from the Trojan Freshmen Class. Cael Johnson, Mason Lamprecht, and Jacob Borg have the potential to contribute in individual and relay events.
Coach Hassler had this to say about his boys team, “I think its about finding the best spots on the track for these young men to compete. Whether they have competed for the last four years, or this is their first go around, we want to find the best chances at success. We have some solid Seniors that will be surround by some good young talent. Our goal as always is to be in the best possible position to perform at our peak come district time.”
Girls Track
The Lady Trojans return two state qualifiers in 2023 in Jordan Metzler and Daveigh Munter McAfee. Jordan is a two-time state qualifier and Daveigh competed for the first time at Burke last Spring. These young ladies combined with Junior Katie Borg give the Lady Trojans a solid hurdling crew headed into the 2023 track season.
Other contributors from last year’s squad looking to do the same again this year will be Senior Alex Arenas and Kenna Decker along with Sophomore Alli Brown. Alex and Alli scored points through the season in the jumps, sprints, and relays, and Kenna has been a consistent scorer in the throwing events for the past two seasons.
Incoming freshman looking to have an impact on the 2023 squad will be Gracyn Keagle, Ashlyn Riewer, and Sierra Kaufman.
Coach Hassler likes the outlook for this year’s team and had this to say, “I think we have a nice mixture of experience and youth for this team. I really feel like we can put together some solid relays and will be able to put up some points in the throws, jumps, hurdles, and sprints. If we can get these ladies in the right places to compete I really like the make-up of this year’s track team.”
The Trojans season started on Tuesday, March 28th at the West Point-Beemer Invitational, and will continue next Tuesday April 4th in Wayne.