RUSSELL — The Ellsworth High School Boys and Girls Track and Field Teams opened their 2022 season with an April 5 meet in Russell.

The girls team placed third, with the boys coming in fourth.

“The conditions were cool and very windy,” Coach Nick Rodriguez said. “It was always good to get the first meet over with to see what the team needs to work on.”

Rodriguez said, overall, his squad is very young, with about 27 underclassmen on the team.

“The girls throw group had a really good day,” he said. “Going into the season, this group is our most experienced crew and should compete well in most meets.”

The group is led by senior Madison Kelley and sophomores Rylan Ohl and Kylan Turnipseed.

“With a large group of freshman and sophomores we have the ability to do a few things we have not done in the past,” Rodriguez said. “We have a couple of experienced jumpers and vaulters with Katelyn Soukup and Kate Wacker. Our track runners are really young but that has given the team some flexibility.”

He said the boys team is young.

“Byron Johnson will compete well in the distance as he came into the season with some quality work during the offseason,” Rodriguez noted. “We have a few sophomores who picked up some valuable experience last season on the track with Loden West, Riley Stone, and Josh Rodriguez. But we also lost some quality seniors last year. Our throwers have some inexperienced kids but with each meet that should improve. The key for both squads to avoid injuries and stay healthy.”

Rodriguez said the team just doesn’t have a lot of depth.

“We graduated some great senior leaders last year who led by example,” he said. “Our current juniors and seniors have done well to take over that responsibility.”

Russell Invitational Girls Results

• 400m Dash — Maggie Bohl, third, 1:13.37.

• 800m Run — Allie Thomasson, fifth, 3:02.12.

• 1600m Run — Madison Newell, third, 6:40.18.

• 3200m Run — Harmony Love, fourth, 15:26.79.

• 300m Hurdles — Jessa Schultz, third, 55.05.

• 4x100m Relay — Danica Hicks, Maggie Bohl, MaLaney Brantley, Jessa Schultz, fourth, 56.77.

• 4x400m Relay — Maggie Bohl, Madison Newell, Danica Hicks, Jessa Schultz, second, 4:43.15.

• High Jump — Katelyn Soukup, third, 4’10”; Madison Newell, fifth, 4’6.”

• Pole Vault — Kate Wacker, fourth, 8’0.”

• Shot Put — Rylan Ohl, first, 31’7”; Madison Kelley, second, 31’5 ¾”; Kylan Turnipseed, fifth, 27’ 11 ¾.”

• Discus — Rylan Ohl , third, 85’ 3”; Keeley Pflughoeft, fifth, 81’ 7”; Kylan Turnipseed, sixth, 80’4.”

• Javelin — Kylan Turnipseed, first, 100’3”; Rylan Ohl, second, 98’ 3”; Keeley Plughoeft, fifth, 76’ 1.”

Boys Results

• 100m Dash — Loden West, fifth, 12.82.

• 200m Dash — Loden West, fifth, 26.33.

• 400m Dash — Joshua Rodriguez, fourth, 56.74.

• 1600m Run — Byron Johnson, second, 5:48.42; Trenton Holmes, sixth, 5:48.42.

• 3200m Run — Byron Johnson, first, 11:26.20; Trenton Holmes, fourth, 12:40.57.

• 4x100m Relay — Landin Johnson, Joshua Rodriguez, Loden West, Riley Stone, second, 46.60.

• 4x400m Relay — Riley Stone, Joshua Rodriguez, Byron Johnson, Wyatt Pelzel, third, 3:57.31.

• Shot Put — Jordan Rodriguez, sixth, 33’6.”

• Discus — Jordan Rodriguez, fourth, 111’9.”

• Javelin — Sumner Homolka, first, 117’2.”