By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The Centre track team has shrunk from 13 members last year to nine this year.

However, five on the team of three girls and four boys return with experience.

The three female returners are sophomores who lettered as freshmen.

Cailey Barney will compete in long jump and run the 400-meter. Alyssa Espinoza will triple jump, and Samantha Espinoza will participate in long jump. All three will run in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Xavier Espinoza and Aidan Svoboda return to the boys team as state qualifiers.

Espinoza, a senior, will compete in long jump and run the 100 and 400. As a sophomore, he qualified for state competition in the 100, 400, long jump, and 4x100 relay. Last year, he took sixth place in the 100. He won regional championships in the 100 and long jump after being the Wheat State League champion in long jump and runner-up in the 100.

Junior Aiden Svoboda will focus on the 1600.

Four track members are newcomers.

Junior Jensen Riffel is joining the team this year for the first time after playing baseball on a Marion team for two. He plans to be a thrower in shot put, discus, and javelin.

Freshman Tanner Stuchlik will focus on distance running, especially the 3200.

Junior Kaitlyn Ivey-Hudson will run the 400 and 4x400 relay. She is a transfer from Herington, where, as a freshman, she placed fourth in the 400 at the Wheat State League meet.

Freshman Carly Deines plans to compete in long jump, 100, and 4x100 relay.

Coach Alan Stahlecker said he encourages his athletes to work to improve throughout the season and strive to reach their full potential.

“I really expect all of the athletes to be competitive in their events in all of our meets, including the Central Kansas Track League, Wheat State League, and regionals,” Stahlecker said. “I expect that each of the athletes will have at least one event in which they have the potential to win medals in most of our meets.”

Stahlecker is in his 10th year as track coach after eight years as an assistant.