Girls? track to build throughout the season

The Washington girls? track and field team returns a pair of state qualifiers from last year, and will look to add to that number as they progress this season.

To get there, the most important step is improvement, according to head coach Stefanie Tschantz.

?We are a raw team, but I want to grow and see our times drop and see us get a little bit crisper,? Tschantz said. ?In the last two weeks, I?ve already seen our times drop tremendously. I?m excited to see the season progress.?

With another indoor meet set for Saturday, Tschantz is hopeful to see more of what she can expect from her team, which could have a fluid lineup this year.

?We have a lot of flexibility with our girls,? Tschantz said. ?We have a lot of 200 and 400 girls and some who can factor into the 800. When you have that, you have a pretty versatile team.?

A pair of seniors are among some of the athletes to look out for, as Amber Salow (who qualified for state with the sprint-medley relay last year) looks to make it in the long jump this year.

?(Amber) been working on it this year,? Tschantz said. ?She?s come out of the gate jumping (14 feet, 4 inches at the first indoor meet), and that was on a track surface, so she didn?t have the chance to get much air. She?s off to a great start.?

Another senior is McKayla Miller, who will be among the team?s top throwers, after finishing in ninth place in the shot put in the Demon Indoor Invitational two weeks ago.

?(McKayla) is capable of whatever she puts her mind to,? Tschantz said. ?She?s a senior and hasn?t made it to state yet, and that?s one of her goals. She?ll also be throwing the discus for us as well.?

In the running events, the Demons will also have Mackenzie Marek returning, another member of the state-qualifying sprint medley team from last year, to go with a few members whom Tschantz is looking at to really break out this year.

?Brooke Stout has been working hard this offseason and Maggie Voss has worked tremendously hard this year,? Tschantz said. ?Every day she is impressing me. Molly Sparks is a freshman coming off a great cross-country season. Kelly Wheeler, we didn?t have her last year, and she?s going to be one of our top sprinters.?

While the team doesn?t have its event lineup set, and might not for a while, the best part about the early season so far has been the warm weather and practicing outside.

?It?s so much nicer,? Tschantz said. ?We can get out on the track and mentally prepare for it. To see what we have as a team when you are running 400 meters is helpful. We have people encouraging each other, and it?s just nice to be outdoors.?

The Demons will run at Central College on Saturday morning.