?Michael was out for track last year, but missed the end of last season with illness,? coach Stan Wiles said. ?We?re hoping to have him for the full season.?
The team?s other distance runner is freshman Rustyn Kerbs.
Brandon Albrecht (javelin, discus), Savik Howard (shot, javelin) and Adam Kristek (javelin, discus) are the team?s juniors, and Trevor Troutt (discus) is its only sophomore.
But with seven freshmen boys entering the program, Wiles has his eyes on both the present and the future. He called the coming season ?a year for a few unexpected performances.?
?We?re young, so we need to see what we can do, get our feet wet and have a great learning year,? he said. ?We could have some good performances, too, depending on how fast we develop.?
For the girls, the sights are set high despite low numbers.
Senior Hannah Kemble is in her first season with the program, while senior Nellie Hill and sophomore Josie Peterson both lettered last year. All are throwers.
?It takes a while to learn the technique,? Wiles said. ?They?re starting to come around, especially in javelin.?
Seniors Kristine Jirak and Bermet Zhumakadyr Kyzy run distance races, and Wiles has one relay crew working on a big goal.
?We have a good group of sprinters who take pride in their 4×100,? he said. ?Kylie Burhoop is a senior, the rest are sophomores?and they?re looking for a trip to state.?
Samantha Seifert, Carlye Simons and Dallas Rosenow are working alongside Burhoop in the event.
?It?s just a goal,? Wiles said of a possible state berth. ?It?s something to work for. Whether we can do it remains to be seen.?
Centre opens its scheduled with a five-team meet at Moundridge on Tuesday, April 1. Events begin at 4:30 p.m.
