The Coupeville High School track team is nearly twice the size of last season’s squad, and amid the 45 athletes are plenty of jewels.

Front and center is senior Makana Stone, who has qualified and placed in three consecutive state meets and set school records in the 200 and 400-meter dashes.

She also owns the school 4×200 relay record with Marisa Etzell, Lauren Grove and Sylvia Hurlburt. The quartet placed third in the state meet in 2015 and lost only Etzell to graduation.

Senior Dalton Martin and junior Skyler Lawrence also qualified for last year’s state meet. Dalton placed fifth in the discus and Lawrence was 16th in the shot put.

Stone and Martin were first-team, all-league honorees as well.

Other returning athletes for the boys, along with Martin, are Lathom Kelley (sprints, hurdles), Jared Helmstadter (sprints), Jacob Smith (sprints), Connor Thompson (jumps), Mitchell Carroll (jumps), Jesse Hester (hurdles), Mitchell Losey (throws) and Grey Rische (javelin).

Coach Randy King said key newcomers are senior Jordon Ford (sprints/jumps); junior Jacob Martin (sprints); sophomores Henry Wynn (sprints/middle distance), Ariah Bepler (hurdles/jumps) and Hunter Downes (sprints); and freshmen Danny Conslick (sprints/middle distance), Chris Battaglia (discus) and Gabe Eck (sprints).

On the girls side, the strength lies with the sprints and relays, thanks to the return of Stone, Grove and Hurlburt. Grove will also compete in the jumps.

Other key returning team members include Lauren Bayne (distance, high jump, throws), Naika Hallam (javelin), Allison Wenzel (throws, hurdles), Abby Parker (distance) and Alexxis Otto (throws).

Strong newcomers are Kyla Briscoe (middle distance), Julia Jones (sprints), Jovannah Foote (sprints), Samantha Leese (sprints, middle distance), McKenzie Meyer (jumps) and a strong freshman class – Ashlie Shank, Emma Smith, Estephanny Liquidano, Lindsey Roberts, Madison Rixe and Tommie Brisa Cruz.

King attributes the growth of the team to the success of the middle school program.

The depth will help the Wolves secure more team points.

“Our coverage of events is going to be better than last year,” King said. “We have some top notch shots at league number ones, but it is the twos and threes and fours that add up those needed points for winning meets and the league.

“It is early, but I think both the boys and girls have a shot to compete for the league title this spring.”

The Wolves will participate in the Island Jamboree in Oak Harbor with South Whidbey and Lakewood at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17.