If there is strength in numbers, look out for the Oak Harbor High School track teams.
The Wildcats boast a roster of 90 boys and 70 girls, both records in the number of participants; the boys’ total is 30 more than the previous high.
Will the mass of bodies result in a mass of wins? Head coach Jay Turner said, “It’s hard to predict where we will end up at the end of the year since we have so many new faces, but so far we have been very impressed with the work ethic and attitude.”
Turner said the boys are led by returning athletes senior Aaron Boesch (sprints, shot put), junior Matt Reith (1,600 and 3,200), sophomore John Kaltenbach (1,600 and 3,200), junior Josiah Miller (sprints and triple jump) and sophomore Jeremy Foster (shot put).
Boesch and Miller competed in the state meet last year with Oak Harbor’s 4×100 relay team, and Reith was one of the league’s top cross country runners last fall.
Other returning lettermen include juniors Justin Everett, Cody Hernkind, Thomas Honeycutt, Nathan LeMay, Conner Meyer and Chris Opdyke, and sophomore Sam Schultz.
Turner said freshmen newcomers Carlton Johnson (sprints), Ray Quinday (discus) and Cameron Hartley (sprints and discus) have looked strong.
The girls include the key members of last fall’s cross country team that placed third in the state 3A meet and sprinters Christina Alexander and Janessa Ramos. Junior Alexander and senior Ramos placed ninth in the state last year on the 4×100 relay team.
Senior hurdler Allison Duvenez competed at state as a sophomore but missed the meet last year because of an injury.
Other key returning performers, according to Turner, include seniors Adrianna Royal (800), Abby Leete (3,200), Amanda Alvarado (shot put) and Janelle Yoshimoto (springs, long jump and javelin); juniors Dominique Jackson (discus) and Maura McKole (400); and sophomore Christina Wicker (800 and 1,600).
Other letter winners returning are senior Katelyn Bristow; juniors Emily Bain, Hannah Bressler and Taylor VonGrey; and sophomores Megan Duhrkopf, Jember Jansen, Hannah Kagey, Ciera Wiser and Raeanna Wynne.
Newcomers are led by sophomore Ashley Everett (sprints and jumps) and freshmen Alex Laiblin (1,600) and Sam Hawkins (sprints and shot put).
Oak Harbor will attend the South Whidbey Jamboree Thursday, March 17, at 3:30 p.m., and then host Stanwood and Lake Stevens Thursday, March 24, at 3:30.
