Girls track team looking good to begin season

There are a lot of younger athletes on the Washington girls track team, but that?s OK, says coach Stefanie Tschantz.

?So far, I?m seeing great things,? she says. ?We have a really young team. I only have six upperclassmen but 31 out, so I?m looking to the younger kids to step up. Right now they?re doing a great job.?

Some of upperclassmen on this year?s team made an appearance at the state meet last year.

?That?s always nice to have,? Tschantz says. ?Some have been out for all four years and have great leadership. That?s nice to have as well.?

One of those returning is Isabel Bailey, who jumped 15 feet 9 inches at districts to qualify for state and went 14 feet 8.75 inches in the long jump in Des Moines.

?I expect great things out of her this year,? Tschantz says. ?Anywhere in the 200 to an 800 for running and also in field events. She looked great as a freshman and is looking even strong so far as a sophomore.?

For others stepping into roles held by seniors last year, that will be easy.

?I have a great group of freshmen sprinters coming up. There will be several who we will have to watch along with other sophomores and seniors.

?I?m just seeing what we have out of the freshman class and see where they fit in the puzzle.?

Claire Horak is looking strong in the distance runs. ?She is coming off a great cross-country season where she finished in 21st place. She put in a lot of miles over the winter. I?m looking for her to be a key contributor in the mid-distance races.?

Newcomer Hannah Anderson is coming in strong. ?She jumped 17 feet, 3 inches last year as an eighth-grader in the long jump. She?s also a good 100, 200, and 400 sprinter.

?There?s a little bit of everything in terms of sprinters and jumpers in the freshmen. We?ll just have to see how well they do.?

Even though the team?s first meet is today, Thursday, at Cornell College, not all of the runners are taking part. ?I only get to have two in the 60 and two in the 200, but when we go to Central next week, that will be unlimited. It will be a good meet for us to see where we are.?

In terms of looking at the overall season, Tschantz didn?t want to predict. ?It?s too early to tell with this young of a team,? she says, laughingly. ?I don?t want to put any pressure on them.

?I know they have goals of several wanting to go to state and wanting to place at state. We have some high goals, but if we work hard, I think they can accomplish those goals.

?The way I see things right now, we are right where we want to be. We?re stronger this year than last year at this point. Everyone is working hard to do their best and I hope they get better.?