Today, about 35 high schoolers will run, jump and throw at their first track and field meet of the year at Russell.

“We have a few more athletes on the team,” Head Coach Nick Rodriguez said, “which builds a bit more depth on the squad.”

Looking forward to the season, Rodriguez said he hopes to get as many students as possible in the top three at league and top four at regionals to qualify them for state.

“We have a very tough league and regional,” Rodriguez said, “so if you do well in both, it usually sets you up to do well at the state level.”

He is excited to see returning state-placer, junior Kylan Turnipseed, compete in javelin. Turnipseed threw her personal best of 131 feet at regionals and her second best of 122 feet at state. This year, her goals are to “throw around 140, go to state again and place better at state.”

Rodriguez also hopes to keep the majority of the team healthy all season, citing that as the “key to any team’s success.”

“Each athlete just needs to be coachable and listen to input from the coaching staff on how they can contribute to team success,” he said. “There is a lot of individuality in track and field, but I like to focus on the team aspect of it as well.”

Junior Loden West runs the 100-meter dash and the 4x1 relay and plans to compete in shot put as well. He hopes to “make it to state and get better for football,” and added that his favorite part of track and field is “seeing progress in his speed and endurance.”