The Big Lake boys track team has a good mixture of distance, sprints and field events this year while the girls will be looking for some of the younger athletes to contribute this upcoming season.

Boys Track

The Hornets lost one of their top runners last year when state 1600 meter champion Owen Layton graduated.

But back is another state champion, Jack Leuer, who topped the field in the 800 meters at state last year. He’ll be joined by a few other members of the cross country team that qualified for the state meet in 2024, including Gavin Flavin, Trent Erickson and Judd Layton. Those four could be the 4x800 relay team this season, along with a talented crew of freshmen that might be the future of distance running at Big Lake.

As for the sprints, the team has a few younger untested athletes, but Montell Hester, who missed the school record in the 100 meters by 0.07 last season and was fourth in the conference, is there to lead the squad in the 100, 200 and relays.

The Hornets also have some strong but untested athletes in the throwing events.

“We finally convinced some of the football players to come out and throw the shot put and discus,” says Coach Bob Blanchard. “We should score some points there.”

Abe Nebo is back as the team’s top long jumper and triple jumper, along with Preston Wesseh and a few more “untested” jumpers. Wesseh also was a good 300-meter hurdler last season.

Dylan Kunz is a high jumper who has cleared near the six-foot mark and will also score some points there.

The Hornets had time trials last week, and Blanchard says there were some good performance. But many of the younger athletes are still untested. They’ll get a chance to show what they can do when the team has it’s first meet April 10 at Cambridge-Isanti.

Girls Track

With just six seniors on a squad of 38, new head Coach Emma Nielsen is hoping those newer faces will score points.

“We have a good solid core of seniors leading the way,” says Nielsen. “So far I see a lot of commitment.”

The Hornets do have some returning athletes who did well last season.

Erin Kjellberg, who ran cross country is an excellent 400-meter runner. She’ll be joined by Maneena Thomas, who showed promise in that event.

Shiloh Elliott, Britta White and Alayna Boe are established sprinters who will likely be part of the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. Boe also cleared 8’6” in the pole vault last season. White is also an excellent long jumper and hurdler.

Campbell Slattery, also a cross county runner, can compete in 800 meters and longer events.

Alivia Voss cleared 4’11” in the high jump last season and will be joined by Audrey Goldseth.

Naomi Huizenga was last season’s top performer in the triple jump at 32’7.5”. She’ll be looking to improve even more this time around, along with Gabrielle Gardner, who jumped over 30 feet last season.

Leah Uphoff, a 10th grader, was the team’s top hurdler in both the 100 meters and 300 meters. She’s also back.

Tayla Gassman has been to the state meet the last three years in four wheelchair events and is expecting to do more of the same this season.

Emily Edlund and Greta Schwirtz are back to throw the shot put and discus, hoping to improve in both events.

Coach Nielsen will be looking to see which of the untested athletes can move up and make a difference at meets this season.