Trojan track looks to make waves in 2020

FAIRFIELD - After an exciting end to the Fairfield track and field season last season, the Fairfield track and field teams are ready to make some noise in the conference race this season.

The Fairfield girls are coming off a second-place tie at the Southeast Conference meet last year, and the boys are hoping to build on a third-place finish.

The boys team returns one of two state champions in the Southeast Conference. Senior Landon Kooiker rose above the rest of the Class 3A high jump competition last year. Kooiker was one of four jumpers to clear six feet, seven inches, but the only one to do so in his first attempt.

Kooiker is the only returning state qualifier from last season's Trojan boys team, although junior distance runner Alex Forrest narrowly missed out last season and looks to be one of the favorites to qualify for state in 2020. Coach Brian Dunlap says the Trojan boys team will hope to develop some relay teams to take a shot at Des Moines.

Among the other key returners for Fairfield are senior sprinters Drew Martin, Carter Ferrell and Matthew Swaonson, along with junior sprinter Kevin Kretz. Sophomore hurdler Jackson Nelson and a handful of distance runners; Brian Wilkins, Kaden Mickels, and Aiden Daughtery.

The Fairfield girls lost four big-name state qualifiers from last year's team, Ashley Bloomquist, Jill Dunlap, Alexis Jones and Julia Fritz, but Coach Jerrod Belzar says the team has a great freshman class, as well as sophomore Kelsey Pacha, who should be an impact contributor.

The Trojan girls are led by a talented group of sprinters, which includes Anna Dunlap, Carly Ferrel, Sophie Wallerich and Danielle Breen. The distance runners are led by Hailey Pohren-Gevock, the lone senior in the distance crew.

In the field events, Anna Westphal returns as a varsity discus thrower. Breen was the top long jumper, and fellow sophomores Brynley Allison and Hannah Bergren return as the Trojan girls' leading hurdlers.