Members of the Longhorn boys’ track team will kick off the 2018 season this week with a meet in Grant. Team members are, front from left, Cedric Maxwell, Will Kuenne, Jack Bauerle, Scott Wheeler, Eli Hinojosa, Noah Griffin, Bryce Zuege, Brit Gockley, Parker Dillan, Bennett Bauerle, Nathan Owens, middle row from left, Mason Nordhausen, Juan Venegas, Francisco Barrientos, Kobe Clevenger, Chase Rowley, Trevin Martin, Dylan Dreiling, Landis Beverly, Zack Barrett, Charles Barnes, Tell Richardson, Brandon Minting, back from left, Blaine Dorn, Trevor Peterson, Kalen Wallin, Logan Jussel, Evan Fisher, Bo O’Neil, Taylor Jablonski, Braden Space, Jake German, Jim Sims, Kadin Vrbas, Mikael Kuhlmann. Not pictured—Angel Romero, Daniel Jaquez and Caleb Weiss. (Johnson Publications photo)
Large boys’ track team kicks off season this week
Coach Carl Zuege is excited about the depth he expects to have on this year’s Longhorn boys’ track team.
The 39 on the boys’ roster this season is the most in his tenure as head coach. He credits that to the improved success in the Chase County track program, both boys’ and girls’.
He’s glad to see that high number because the Longhorns are going to have to rely on points from a lot of events to go undefeated through districts like they did last year.
Huge numbers of points were racked up in nearly every meet by several top 2017 seniors, Cody Williams, Hunter Bartels and Dakota Wallin, he noted.
While they are gone from the team now, he has confidence in the returning athletes, all of whom won letters last season and five who competed at state—Will Kuenne, Scott Wheeler, Caleb Weiss, Francisco Barrientos and Juan Venegas.
Wheeler and Weiss competed on last year’s 1600 and 3200 relay teams at state, with Barrientos also on the 3200 team and Venegas on the 1600. The 3200 team captured the sixth place Class C medal.
Those young men will also contribute to a strong middle distance crew, Zuege said. With the other returners and Kuenne’s strength in the distance races, Zuege said the Longhorns will be very strong on the track from the 200 through the 3200 meter events.
He said fans will also see improvement in the sprints.
“We’re expecting more points from that group,” he said.
With such a strong group of throwers last season, some of the talented younger athletes like Eli Hinojosa had to sit out of most varsity meets.
That won’t be the case this spring, Zuege said. He expects Jack Bauerle, Evan Fisher and Hinojosa to continue Chase County’s strength in the shot and discus events.
Last year’s pole vaulters were young, but Zuege said they will be an improved group, as well.
One area the team will need to make up a lot of points are in the jumps, which Williams dominated last season. That’s where the team’s numbers will come in handy. He expects to see some points scored from the returning jumpers.
Zuege started his boys at practice on March 1, three days later than the girls’ start because of the boys’ longer basketball season.
He said the athletes were in good shape as practice commenced, and were ahead in some areas.
“We hit the ground running,” he said.
He said the days they’ve had with cold and wind only kept them from going outside a couple times. Runners can withstand those conditions, he noted, while bad weather has a bigger effect on technique development in the field events.
Opener this Thursday
The Longhorns will be one of four teams at the Perkins County Quad today (Thursday) in Grant.
Field events will start the meet at 3:30 p.m., with the running events set for a 4:15 p.m. start with the 3200 meter relay.
To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/