The Becker boys and girls track teams are setting their sights on having a superb season in 2015.

 

Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy is heading into her 10th year as varsity coach and she said it still brings joy to her life.

 

“I still enjoy it,” she said. “I love the sport and the kids. They keep it fresh every year.”  

 

Reimer-Kealy has 32 girls on the team. She will be assisted by Josh Ihrke and the junior high coach is Corrine Steele, who ran for Monticello High School recently.

 

Junior Hannah Schmidt returns as a leader on the team after going to the state meet in 2014 where she placed eighth in the high jump and 12th in the pole vault. 

 

“We hope to make it back to state in those events, plus she is an outstanding sprinter as well,” said Reimer-Kealy.

 

Other field events have Haley Hubbard looking good in the triple jump where she should earn some points. Madi Kerzman just earned her personal record in the shot put at the indoor meet and her mark put her on Becker's honor roll in fifth place. 

 

Morgan Youngdahl returns as Becker’ #1 long jumper.

 

“We have some experience in the hurdles with Haley Hubbard and Aubree Lahr,” said Reimer-Kealy.  “Both girls look stronger than last year and will receive some support from new hurdlers Samantha Angell and Miranda O'Brien.” 

 

Tate Spinner also runs the 300 hurdles.

 

The sprinters have the welcomed the return of Emily Cox after she took a year off. Senior Michaela Manifold and junior Shannon Sydow also return. 

 

The distance crew looks to be pretty strong and familiar since several of these girls were on Reimer-Kealy’s cross country team and they work together well.  

 

Alli Hendrickson and Lexi Dehmer look strong in the 1600 and 3200 meters.  Jada Rositas and Tate Spinner are picking up steam in the 800 and the 1600.

 

Alli Garding has done well in the 800 and 400. Also in the 400, Nikki O'Brien has been very competitive.

 

“There are several girls who are very versatile and  several new girls are showing promise,” said the head coach. “We can't wait to see how they all do.”

 

A new rule change is in effect this year, allowing competitors to wear jewelry.  

 

Reimer-Kealy says she is most excited about the whole attitude of the team and how outstanding it is. 

 

“It’s a great group of girls,” she said. “They have been so willing to work and have fun together. Lots of new faces and it is always fun to see what they can do.”

 

Another thing that has been positive for the team is Mother Nature.

 

“The weather has been the best I can remember for this time of year,” Reimer-Kealy said. “It’s a welcome change after the last two springs.”

 

The team consists of: Michaela Allen, Samantha Angell, Sarah Beack,  Lauren Brower, Allie Carver, Kailey Cleaver, Emily Cox, Lexi Dehmer, Alli Garding, Allie Hendrickson, Haley Hubbard, Madison Kerzman, Siera Knick, Victoria Kolbinger, Aubree Lahr, Deedra Lawrence, Rachel Lukkarila, Michaela Manifold, Lexi Michels, Miranda O'Brien, Nikki O'Brien, Haley Olsen, Isabella Rogers, Jada Rositas, Ale Rothfork, Jessica Sand, Hannah Schmidt, Kassidy Severson, Summer Somrock, Tate Spinner, Allyna Storms, Shannon Sydow, Renee Tripp, Kayden Westin and Morgan Youngdahl.

 

The boys track team is coached by Paul Schmidt and assisted by Dustin Weege and Josh Ihrke.

 

Forty-three athletes are on Schmidt’s squad with eight being seniors, 12 being juniors, eight sophomores, 14 freshmen and one eighth-grader.

 

Senior Luke Lahr was named the team’s most valuable player last year and will again be the cornerstone of the team. Lahr is coming off a state run for the cross country team last fall and is looking in mid-season form already as the team competes in time trials.

 

Schmidt will be looking to Jonathan Novak, Cody Case, Olsen Pancoast, Luke Pappenfus, Erik Paulson and Lahr to impress him in the 4x800. His hurdlers will be Tanner Neidenfeuhr and Logan Gallus who are new to the 55 meter hurdles event.

 

Connor Huebner, Kevin Andres and Bhavin Bhatka are fighting for spots on the 55 meter dash along with Jordan Ulbrich. Huebner also looks smooth in the 200 meter as well as Andres and Parker Friedman. Sydney Boros, Logan Anderson, Colten Demant, Alex Blomgren, Andrew Davalos and Andres look to be solid in the 4x200.

 

In the 4x400, Schmidt is eyeing Boros, Andres, Neidenfeuhr and Lahr to lead the squad.

 

In field events, Demant, Jacob Drury and James Nikolov have looked sharp in the high jump while Blake Angell, Blake Killian and William Schendel are polishing their skills on the pole vault. In the long jump, Boros, Andres and Gallus are soaring and in the triple jump, Ethan Holm and Dylan Laudenbach are impressing the coaching staff.

 

In shot put, Dylan Radunz, Jacob Woerle and Dawson Thom should be among the top throwers when the season begins.

 

The team consists of: Alex Bloomquist, Andrew Davalos, Basil Macfarland, Bhavin Bhakta, Blake Angell, Blake Killian, Blake Paulson, Brady Roesler, Brady Scheeley, Brett Parson, Cody Case, Colten Demant, Conner Huebner, Dawson Thom, Dillon Radunz, Dylan Laudenbach, Erik Parson, Ethan Holm, Hunter Golden, Jacob Drury, Jacob Woehrle, James Nikolov, Jonathan Novak, Jordan Ulbrich, Joshua Drury, Keith Sorensen, Kevin Andres, Lachlan Lahr, Logan Anderson, Logan Gallus, Logan Lahr, Luke Lahr, Luke Pappenfus, Matt Sanderson, Matthew Davalos, Michael Bloss, Olsen Pancoast, Parker Friedman, Ryan Nohner, Shane Soderquist, Sydney Boros, Tanner Neidenfeuhr and William Schendel.

 

The girls and boys track teams started the season March 27 at home indoors against Granite Ridge Conference foes.

 

“We were very pleased even though we were missing about 1/2 of each of our teams,” said Reimer-Kealy. 

 

Becker took home the first and second place spots in the pole vault even though star vaulter Hannah Schmidt was out of town. Aubree Lahr took first and Haley Hubbard second, both vaulting 7'6". 

 

The pair also placed in the 55 hurdles with Hubbard taking third (9.93), Lahr eighth (10.45) and Miranda O'Brien ran a 10.61.

 

O’Brien also took seventh in the 55 dash  (8.39).

 

In the1600 meters, Alli Hendrickson captured fourth with a PR of 5:52.87, Lexi Dehmer fifth with a PR of 5:59.31 and Jada Rositas just missed placing  by finishing ninth (6:12.17).

 

Nikki O'Brien took fifth (68.5) and Allie Garding seventh (69.12) in the 400 meters race.

 

In the 800 meter, Hendrickson took fourth (2:44.16), Tate Spinner eighth (2:51.42) and Kayden Westin just missed placing by finishing ninth (2:55.45).

 

Miranda O'Brien took ninth (30.88), Shannon Sydow finished with a time of 31.18 and Summer Somrock 31.82 in the 200 dash.

 

In the shot put, Madi Kerzman took fourth place with a PR of 30'3". In the triple jump, Haley Hubbard finished fourth with a 29'10.

 

Long Jump- Miranda O'Brien took eighth (13'6 1/2") PR in the long jump and Sarah Beake (12'11 1/2) and Michael Allen (12'7 1/2") did well also.

 

The 4x800 team ran their best time in over a year and  placed fourth. Garding, Dehmer, Spinner and Rositas ran the event in 10:53.53.

 

In the 4x200 relay, the Bulldogs did well but ran out of the zone on the second hand off and their didn’t count, The team consisted of Lahr, Sydow, Manifold and Cox.

 

The 4x400 relay foursome (Garding, Dehmer, Nikki O'Brien and Cox) finished out the meet on a high note, running an exciting race and capturing fist place with a time of 4:34.9.

 

1). St Cloud Cathedral 118.5; 2). Little Falls 77.5; 3). Mora  75; 4). Becker 74; 5). Milaca 60; 6). Zimmerman 56.5; 7). Foley 50; 8). Albany 31.5.

 

Luke Lahr won two individual events and ran on the second place 4x400 relay team. He also won the 1600 (4;51.29) and the 800 (2:13.64). 

 

Other first place finishers came from Dylan Radunz in the shot put (44'9 1/2") and James Nikolov in the high jump (5'8").

 

In the 1600 meters where Lahr took first, Olsen Pancoast  finished in 5:26.98 and Keith Sorenson in 5:43.78.

 

In the 55 hurdles, Neidenfeuhr took fourth (9.85) and Logan Gallus tied for seventh (10.35).

 

In the 55 dash, Conner Huebner finished at 7.22, Bhavin Bhakta at 7.43 and Jordan Ulbrich at 8.37.

 

In the 400 meters, Neidenfeuhr took sixth (58.07), Sydney Boros took seventh (58.33) and Lachlan Lahr finished with a time of 68.7.

 

In the 800 meters, Lahr captured first (2:13.64), Novak took sixth (2:21.74) and Pappenfus had a time of 2:34.22.

 

In the 200 dash, Andres took seventh (25.51) and Conner Huebner (26.18) and Parker Friedman (27.75) finished well.

 

In the high jump, Nikolov took first (5'8"), Demant reached 5' and Drury 4'10".

 

In the pole vault,  Angell took seventh (10'6") while Killian and Schendel  reached 9'.

 

In the long jump, Boros captured ninth (17'0"), Andres 10th (16'11") and Gallus nailed 15'9 1/2".

 

In the triple jump, Holm landed at 29'1 and Laudenbach 28'2 1/4".

 

In the shot put, Radunz took first (44'9 1/2") and Woerle (35'1) and Thom (29'1") also threw well.

 

The team of Paulson, Pancoast, Case and Pappenfus ran the 4x800 and captured seventh place (10:34.66). 

 

In the 4x200, Boros, Demant, Andres and Blomgren took fourth place  (1:44.36).

 

In the 4x400, Boros, Andres, Neidenfeuhr and Luke Lahr took second place  (3:53.34).  

 

1). Foley 144; 2). Mora 110; 3). Becker 73.5; 4). Little Falls 63.5; 5). Milaca 43.5; 6). Zimmerman 38; 7). St Cloud Cathedral 37; 8). Albany 35.5.

 

The boys and girls’ next meets are April 7 at Albany and April 9 at Big Lake.