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Washington Evening Journal
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Raiders return ‘strong core,’ eye development
Freshman Nielsen broke school record in high jump Tuesday
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg girls track and field team placed in two events at the state meet last season.
Those two events scored 14 team points with second- and third-place finishes.
The Raiders qualified in six total events.
“We had a great season, but it was definitely hard being the smallest Class 3A team,” Williamsburg coach Nick Nordheim said.
“We were highlighted by the sprint medley team and Ava Hocker in the 400-meters. All of those girls return and will be a strong core for this season.”
The runner-up sprint medley relay team — Ailea Wetjen, Makenna Hughes, Taylor Sanchez — and Hocker return this season. Hocker, as a freshman, placed third in the 400.
Other qualifiers were Keston Spratt, in the 400 hurdles, and three more relays (4x100, 4x400 and distance medley). Edie Axemar ran the 800m leg in the distance medley and returns this season.
The Raiders return a lot of faces, and coach Nordheim eyes development to keep building their depth.
“We need to keep developing our depth and also getting everyone fit after many of our key members missing time after the state basketball run,” said Nordheim.
The run to the semifinals in state basketball caused several athletes to miss the first chunk of track practice. They’ll need some time to get back into the swing of things.
Some promising newcomers also enter the fold this season for the Raiders, including Channing Becker and Ellie Nielsen.
Becker qualified for state cross-country in the fall as a freshman.
On Tuesday, Nielsen broke the school record in the high jump, clearing five feet, four inches.
That mark would have qualified for the Drake Relays and placed at state last season.
“Our goals are to be one of the top three teams in the WaMaC and one of the top teams in 3A,” Nordheim said. “It may be more of a slow build this year, but we have a lot of great athletes who want to work hard.”
The Raiders have competed at three indoor meets already and have one more awaiting, the WaMaC indoor at Grinnell College Tuesday.
At the University of Dubuque Tuesday, Lilly Ness was second in shot put, Ailea Wetjen placed third in the 55-meter with a new personal best and the 4x400 relay team placed fifth.
The outdoor season opens up April 5 at Iowa City Liberty.
