Three talented female sprinters return to lead the Coupeville High School track team.
The Wolves set school records in all three girls relays last spring (4×100, 48.01; 4×200, 1:47.27; and 4×400, 4:14.98). Gone through graduation are relay members Jai’Lysa Hoskins and Madison Tisa McPhee, but coach Randy King welcomes back junior Marisa Etzell and sophomores Makana Stone and Sylvia Hurlburt.
Hurlburt and Stone ran on the 4X200 team that placed fifth and Etzell and Stone on the 4×400 team that placed 11th at the state meet last year.
Stone also earned first-team, all-Cascade Conference honors in the 100 and 200 and set a school record in the 200 (26.74).
Other returning letter winners among the girls are senior Heni Barnes (throws) and junior Erin Rosenkranz (distance).
Senior Nick Streubel, who finished fourth in the discus and fifth in the shot put at the league meet in 2013, returns for the boys, along with lettermen senior Brandon Kelley (hurdles), a tri-district qualifier, and sophomores Matthew Hampton (distance) and Lathom Kelley (sprints).
“Lathom’s speed, which was on display during football season, has taken an explosive jump due to his hard work in the weight room,” King said.
Jared Helmstadter also returns and is “going to be one of our fastest,” King said.
Some of the key newcomers among the girls, according to King, are distance runner Mattea Miller; throwers Briess Potter, Sophia Jebrail, Joye Jackson, Ashlyn Miller and Skyler Lawrence; and sprinters Carlie Rosenkrance, Lauren Burrow and Nene Maxie Stokes.
Junior Matt Shank (throws/sprints) tops the list of newcomers among the boys.
The Wolves have 41 athletes (24 boys and 17 girls) on the team, so depth is an issue. Winning dual meets will be difficult; however, King said, “We are always about taking some challenges.”
“We have quite a large group of boys out for the first time and they are enthusiastic and, in some cases, pretty talented,” King said. “Overall, it’s a fun group to work with.”
Because of the quality of the Coupeville track and the lack of electronic timing, the Wolves will not host a home meet this spring. They start the season at the Island Jamboree in Oak Harbor with South Whidbey and Lakewood at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20.
