Boys? track ?green? coming into season

With a young squad, Washington boys? track and field head coach Steve Roth knows there is some work ahead for his team.

However, with the youth comes a lot of athleticism, which Roth hopes to harness coming into the new track season.

?We are green, as you can see,? Roth said. ?We are learning. The weather has been cooperative, so that?s made things a lot easier. I have some versatile kids who can move around and do a lot of different things. We aren?t worried about now. We are worried about down the road, and we have four or five weeks to get them where we want them.?

Leading the Demons this season are a few returners who are state returners.

Washington returns members from a pair of state-qualifying relays, including three of the four runners from the 4 x 200 relay.

Only one member who ran at state in the shuttle hurdle relay is returning for the Demons, but Roth thinks there will be good competition for the other spots.

?Jose Tapia is running pretty well and Jack (Giardino) will be involved with that, and Caleb (Bex),? Roth said. ?We are looking for that fourth person who will be involved with that. We are looking to stretch out the fourth person, and we don?t know who that?ll be.?

Bex is one of the top returners in the hurdles, and after a strong indoor meet to start the year, appears primed for a big season on the track.

?His technique has to be perfect all the time,? Roth said. ?Caleb has got it, he just has to keep his technique sharp. He?s going to run the shuttle and the high hurdles. I?m expecting big things out of him.?

As for the other relays, Roth is hoping to use the first few meets of the season to shake out who will be participating for shots at state.

?It?ll be a trial by error for the first meets,? Roth said. ?I?m going to give seniors some of the first shots, because they deserve it. Jose Tapia also should be good for us. He didn?t run much (varsity) for us last year, but he anchored all my JV relays last year. We have some versatile kids this year.?

In the open events, Roth mentioned a couple of sprinters who could have big years, including junior Kyle Schindler who is a returning member of the state-qualifying 4 x 200-meter relay team.

?Kyle should have a good year,? Roth said. ?He?s a junior, and he handled himself well on the track last year.?

In the distance events, many eyes will be on sophomore Brennan Horak, who is coming off a strong cross-country year, and will look to lead the Demons in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs this season.

?Brennan is going to be the mainstay,? Roth said. ?He?ll run the 1600 and the 3200 all the time, and we?ll be having kids chase him. He?s out on his own by himself. We are expecting big things out of him. He?s a good leader and we hope people will follow him.?

In the field events, senior Michael Ellingson narrowly missed state in the high jump a year ago, and will be primed for another big season.

Roth also noted a few other athletes to look out for in the field events, with Colin Murphy in the shot put, Tanner Murphy in the long jump and Mark Engelken and Bryce Sinn in the discus.

The Demons will be in action on Thursday, March 24, when they host the Demon Relays.