Track is back, Jack!
In 2022, only about 30 students were participating in track and field. Now in 2026, the Eagles track team is home to over 70 students.
With the growth of the Eagles track team, it has brought new light to a couple of relay teams. Last year, two relay teams qualified and competed at state. Senior Jamison Portner happened to be on one of those teams. Jamison’s 4×100 team carried their way all the way to the state tournament, but unfortunately did not place. The team included Jamison Portner, Hunter Heil, Isaac Friese, and Jackson Ocampo.
The Eagles’ season started with a bang before it even got started, with their previous coach quitting. Their new coach, Brian Lundgren, stepped up days before the season started, kicking off the new season with a fresh start.
The Eagles seem optimistic about their new coach. “Its definitely better than last year. I think this year is a bit more organized,” said Fischer. “I feel like we have a purpose to being at practice,” she added.
“I think the coaching this year has been a lot better than the past two years. I think the program has definitely gone up,” said Portner.
The Eagles are looking forward to another successful season, but lost a few seniors to graduation last year who helped them get two teams to state last year. “I think this season is a rebuilding season, considering we lost a lot of seniors who helped us get to state last year,” said Fischer.
Three seniors contributed to the relay teams that participated in state last year. The Eagles are still looking to find suitable replacements for them. “I think at the bigger meets, I don’t think we will do as well,” said Porter.
Seniors play a big part in the success of a team and also the success of the future of the team. Younger athletes usually look up to the seniors on the team and see them as role models. When asked for advice for young track athletes, Jamison said: “Don’t run above 400m because it takes a lot out of your body and your mental health.”
“Be open to new events, you never know what you’re gonna be good at,” said Fischer.
The juniors on the team will have big shoes to fill when this Senior class graduates. The Eagles’ throwing captain, Junior Kaden Schaefer, is ready to do that. “They don’t really mean that much to me, a lot of them hate on me, and I’ve just been doing my own thing,” Schaefer said. Kaden is looking forward to being the top dog on the track team next year and to reprising his role as the throwing captain.
