PREVIEW: State meet relay returns for Eagles

Published by admin on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 1:12pm

The Midland girls track team, first row from left: Maisie Paulsen, Lauryn Eganhouse, Emma Dusanek, Kayla Folkers, Taylor Bahnsen, Kaeti Taylor-Mere and Chiara Dusanek. Second row: Tatem Galloway, Elisa Manganotto, Ari Hacke, Drew Jensen, Ella Rupp, Brennah Ricketts and Bailie Uppena. Not pictured are Emma Gerdes and head coach Ryan Luensman. (Photo by Pete Temple)
GIRLS TRACK

     The Midland High School girls track and field team has plenty of experienced athletes returning this spring, four of whom have state meet experience.

     The Eagles hope those factors will help them show steady improvement and send more athletes to state competition.

     Last year, Midland’s 4x400-meter relay team reached the finals at the state meet and placed eighth. All four members of that group – seniors Emma Dusanek and Drew Jensen, and sophomores Ari Hacke and Ella Rupp – are back.

     Jensen and Dusanek also qualified individually in the 400, with Jensen finishing ninth and Dusanek 16th.

     “We have a strong group of returning runners,” fifth-year coach Ryan Luensman said. “We want to improve every meet and give ourselves a chance to do some good things at the state meet.”

     There are six more returning letter-winners: senior distance runner Kayla Folkers, senior hurdler Lauryn Eganhouse, junior thrower Kaeti Taylor-Mere, junior distance runner Tatem Galloway, junior sprinter Brennah Ricketts, and junior middle distance runner/hurdler Taylor Bahnsen.

     Luensman said North Linn is the likely Tri-Rivers Conference favorite. With just 15 athletes out for the team, Midland may not score as well as a team in larger meets, but hopes to excel individually and in relays.

     

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