Two record-setting athletes are gone but two state qualifiers return to help fill in the hole for the Coupeville track team.

Tyler King (distances) and Hunter Hammer (weights) graduated with the class of 2011, but coach Randy King welcomes back two of the Cascade Conference’s top athletes at their events, senior Mitch Pelroy and junior Madison Tisa-McPhee.

Pelroy, a sprinter, has qualified twice for the state meet and placed ninth in the 400 last spring after winning the district title in the event.

Tisa-McPhee finished eighth in the 100 hurdles in the state finals in 2011 and is the defending league champion.

Coach King said the two are “definitely leaders on our team and help set the tone of what is expected by our athletes.”

Other returning letter winners include Jai’Lysa Hoskins, Anna Bailey, Grace LaPoint, Megan Oakes and Nicole Becker.

Hoskins is one of the league’s best female sprinters; and she, Tisa-Madison, Bailey and LaPoint finished third in the league 4×200 relay last spring.

On the boys side, King said, “Larry Hurlburt is our most experienced distance runner and has come in in good condition.”

Key newcomers, according to King, are multi-event competitor Austin Nichols and freshman sprinter Marissa Etzell.

King added, “Much of the offensive line from the football team is out this year, and leading in the throws is sophomore Nick Streubel.”

King, who is assisted by Tom Fournier, welcomed 34 athletes this year. He said, “Practices are going great and we look forward to our season. We are optimistic about our girls relay teams pushing towards a state appearance and an overall deeper team on both the girls and boys squads.”

The Wolves go to Oak Harbor at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, for the Whidbey Jamboree.