Tracksters anxious to get underway

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
 
The sun is finally shining this week and spring officially begins. Head coach Chad Ostenson and the Newcastle Track team have been anxiously awaiting the spring thaw, so they can get outside and really get to work on their 2019 season.
“It’s been hard to get going this year because we can’t get on the track to practice,” Ostenson sighed. “You can finally see the track in spots though, so hopefully we’ll be able to be out there by the end of the week.”
The challenge to practice all the different specialties has been real for 40 or so athletes who have come out for track this season given they have yet to set foot on the track. Ostenson and his coaching staff have had to be creative in providing opportunities to prepare for the first meet of the season.
“We’ve been doing speed work in the gym, we’ve run a little distance outside, we’ve done pool workouts, and then we’ve been finding areas by the fairgrounds where we can work sprinters,” he explained. 
“We haven’t been able to work on triple or long jumping because the pits are just too muddy, but we’ll look at trying to get mats inside to work on high jump this week. We also haven’t been able to do much work with hurdlers.”
Weather issues aside, Ostenson is pleased overall with the number and quality of athletes composing his team this year. Though the girls’ squad is very thin with only 10 or so out for the season, those who are participating bring a great deal to their area of specialty.
Senior Lexus Voelker is the only sprinter from previous seasons that is returning. Distance runners include Hailey McGuire and Summer Bonnar. As such, it looks as though the ladies will be unable to man any relay teams after having had success at the state meet in recent years in the 4x400 and 4x100 Meter relays.
The remaining girls compete mostly in weights with the exception of Avery Alicehouse, who will be the sole jumper for the Lady Dogies in the triple jump.
“Our numbers are low for the girls, but we have some talent in those numbers,” Ostenson declared. “Lexus is a four-time state qualifier, while Makenzie Wagoner and Lauren Steveson each qualified for state last year in throwing.”
On the boys side numbers are not an issue, and like the ladies there are several returning athletes who have established themselves as contenders in years past.
Cade Ostenson, PJ Martin and Dylan Talley are seniors who have all qualified for previous state meets, while Zach Purviance, and Grayson and Gunnar Ramsey return as sophomores who each qualified for state as freshmen.
“Our distance program is shaping up to be tough this season, as we have several quality athletes returning,” Ostenson nodded. “We’re a little lighter with sprinters, but I think we’ve got a good shot at putting together some pretty good relays this year, especially the 4x800 and 4x400.”
The Dogies were scheduled to host the Laura Chord Memorial track meet this Friday, however with the track and field still mostly under snow, that meet has been postponed to a later date. As such and weather permitting, the team will be heading to a developmental meet at Sioux Park in Rapid City this Saturday.
“The kids are excited to be getting outside and on the track, so hopefully we’ll be able to get our season started this weekend,” Ostenson chuckled. “We won’t be full force with FBLA at their state convention, but it will be great for the rest of the team to actually get to compete.”