Mid-Prairie girls? track preparing for stiff competition

With a number of talented athletes, the Mid-Prairie girls? track team is looking forward to what could be a fruitful track season this year.

The only thing standing in their way? It might be the opponents they face all season.

?Our conference is unbelievably strong right now,? Mid-Prairie girls? track head coach Chris Tyler said. ?In the 100-meter dash last year, Lexi Duwa was fifth in the conference, running a sub-13, which is typically a state-finals qualifier. There were four girls ahead of her, and so four or five of the top sprinters in all of 2A are in our conference.?

Duwa is one of the state-qualifying returners from last season, after participating in the 100-meter dash (12th-place finish) and 200-meter dash (15th-place finish) in Des Moines.

Tyler is excited about what the senior will be able to do this season.

?We?ve been working on critiquing her blocks a little bit,? Tyler said. ?We?ve made some changes there, and it looks to be a lot smoother. Based on some splits we?ve had, it?s made some improvements, but she?s an outstanding kid all the way around. She works hard and is a leader in practice.?

In the field events, sophomore Abby Tornow has impressed in the team?s first two meets of the season, including taking the crown at Regina?s Bob Brown Invitational on Monday.

Being a sophomore, Tyler said the talent is there, it?s just a matter of tweaking some technique.

?She has some potential there,? Tyler said. ?Our jumps coach thinks she?ll be able to consistently get to that 5-foot jump mark, which is a pretty decent jump in high school girls? competition. We have a few issues that need to be fixed, but once she gets comfortable, that?ll naturally help.?

In the distance events, the Hawks will get a boost from freshman Anna Hostetler, who finished in sixth place at the state cross-country meet this past fall.

?She?s been a great addition to our team as a freshman,? Tyler said. ?She?ll be a valuable runner in the distance and mid-distance events. She knows she can?t go hard every single day, even though she probably wants to. In track, I try to not let them get as many miles, but more quality reps with faster speed.?

In the hurdles, the Hawks are looking for Ali Butters to have a big year, after looking good in the 400-meter hurdles on Monday.

?One name that has really come out of the woodwork in the early season is Ali Butters,? Tyler said. ?She had a really good 400-hurdles race on Saturday (at Regina). I wasn?t expecting her to run quite as well as she did. She?s three seconds ahead of where she was last year, and that time will typically get you to the state meet.?

Tyler noted that most of the girls worked hard in the offseason, putting in their own workouts, so they have a good base to start from going into the heart of track season.

The Hawks will next compete on Thursday in Mt. Pleasant.