As the winter sports come to a close, track athletes prepare for their season. Their first meet is March 29 at Clearwater High School beginning at 4 p.m.

The track team’s head coach is Brent Martens, who said he holds his team this year to high expectations.

“Similar to the last couple of years, we will be good in throwing event,s and we have some good girls returning for distance running. We have some good seniors to lead the team,” Coach Martens said.

Last year, several individuals competed in the state competition at WSU. One of these athletes was senior Lacey Pauly, who, after battling a leg injury last year, was unable to compete at full strength.

“As my last track season begins, I am looking to return to state,” she said. ”One of my biggest goals is to run under 2:30 in the 800 meter dash.”

Freshmen going out for track are transitioning from the expectations and demands of middle school track to high school track. The biggest change for them will be going from in-school practices in middle school to out-of-school practices in high school.

“I went out for track this year because the high school level has better coaches, and I wanted to get in shape,” freshman Brynn Andra said.