Every year, the coming of spring does not just mean the lengthening of the days, the melting of snow, and the return of the birds. To many, it means one thing: track season.

This year, the Warrior track and field team is going to have its work cut out for it trying to maintain its fantastic reputation from last year without the graduated team members. Last year, the girls team lost only one meet, and the boys lost two.

This year J.C. Lewis, the coach of sprinting, is setting the goals high.

“Our goal has been, for the past couple years, to come out with a winning record and make a run at division title,” said Lewis

He hopes to do this despite the loss of numerous “heavy hitters” from last year’s seniors.

Not every change for the team provides a challenge, though. This year, the track and field coaching staff welcomes a new throwing coach, Brad Keeney. Coach Keeney is also very excited about this year’s season.

“I’m excited. I get to work with a more diverse group of kids…[I] Get to coach girls and boys, which is something you don’t get to do,” said Keeney

He, with the help of Athletic Trainer Mike Flemming, have created a workout plan to push the throwers to new levels of competition. With Keeney’s experience as a wrestling coach and Flemming’s experience as a thrower and athletic trainer, there is a strong hope that this year’s throwing team will be even stronger than last year and years past.

It isn’t only the coaches that are excited for the upcoming season. Senior Jackie Ditt looks forward to this year’s track season, hoping that she can get into districts as an individual, and she hopes that the team can once again take the title as division II champs, to “get sweatshirts again.” In terms of personal goals, senior Tyler Buckley aims “to break the long and triple jump records for the school.” He too, hopes to win the division title and earn the coveted district champion sweatshirts. Also aiming to do well this year is senior Jala Sanders, a sprinter on the team who runs in the 300 meter hurdles, the 100 and 200 meter dash, and the 4X1 relay race. She hopes to make it to districts this year in the 300 meter hurdles.

Anticipation for this year’s track and field season has high expectations.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You too can join the track team this year! Get your paperwork from the office, Brad Keeney, or J.C. Lewis, and come out! You can only get better!