With a group of school record holders and state qualifiers at its core, along with a squad of more than 30 athletes, the Coupeville High School track team should leave a positive mark in its first season in the North Sound Conference.
Back for the girls is senior Lindsey Roberts, who owns the school record in the 100 hurdles and placed second in the state in the event in 2018, and junior Mallory Kortuem, Coupeville’s pole vault record holder.
Roberts, Kortuem and junior Maya Toomey-Stout also ran on school-record relay teams for the Wolves and will handle the sprints.
Other returning letter winners are senior Emma Smith; juniors Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Lucy Sandahl, Raven Vick and Willow Vick; and sophomore Catherine Lhamon.
Smith will lead the discus and shot put crew, while Raven Vick tops the javelin throwers and Willow Vick the high jumpers.
Hoskins and her freshman sister Ja’Kenya will added depth to the sprint and hurdle squads and fill out the relays.
Lhamon, Sandahl, Alana Mihill and Makaela Labrador are set to take on the distance races.
The boys do not have any long distance runners, but they will be strong in the other events.
Senior Danny Conlisk finished second in the 400 meters and junior Sean Toomey-Stout was 15th in the long jump at state last spring. Toomey-Stout also ran on two state qualifying relay teams; one with returnee junior Sean Lund-Olsen.
Toomey-Stout and Lund-Olsen are two of the team’s best jumpers and sprinters, and Toomey-Stout may also compete in the pole vault and javelin, according to coach Randy King.
Senior Kyle Burnett and junior Thane Peterson, both returning lettermen, will pole vault for the Wolves.
The throwers are paced by state qualifiers seniors Ryan Labrador and Chris Battaglia, and they will be pushed by senior Keahi Sorrows and newcomer freshman Logan Martin.
In the high jump, Battaglia, who qualified for state in the event in 2017, Martin and newcomer Koa Davisson should lead the pack.
Senior Jakobi Baumann, who was the Olympic League champion in the 110-high hurdles last spring, will provide punch in the hurdles for Coupeville.
The Wolves are off to a good start through the first two weeks, according to King: “They have proven to be a fun group with good leadership and a great positive vibe.”
The Wolves will compete in the Island Jamboree at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in Oak Harbor and then host a meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 21.
