Photo courtesy of Michelle Nichols Front Row: Aidan Kampsen, Kelly Bernardy, Mikayla Bliss, Christian Sanow. Second Row: Carly Fenger, Alexis Jensen, Josie Wiese, Braylin Kampsen, Paxton Huhnerkoch, Aubree Stephens, Bryson Kampsen, Emelia Janeiro-Dolan, Tyson Lightfoot. Third Row: Ty Bernardy, Camden Novak, Joe Rohlik, Sam Zeug, Mary Bottelberghe, Emma Taccini, Kiley Torke, Nolan Leopold, Katelyn Zeug, Callie Olson. Fourth Row: Andrew Morin, Leah Mathiowetz, Aaliyah Flowers, Lizzy Morin, Cadence Pope, Emma Kolander, Shelby Kramer, Leah Lightfoot, Natasha Doubler, Addison Jensen, Elijah Walgren. Back Row: Tavyn Larson, Mason Kampsen, Nolan Hanson, Zach Timm, Brayden Daub, Nele Schicke, Zeke Olson, Josh Timm, Wyatt Brockberg, Noah Pope. Not Pictured: Madisyn Ourada

The Wabasso Rabbits track and field team is building off its first season under a rookie coach. Head coach Michelle Nichols has been coaching junior high Volleyball and Basketball for the past 11 years but coached track and field for the first time last season.

For the boys, Wyatt Soupir and Steven Lensing both set personal records in the 400 Meters event in the 3A sub-section playoffs. Soupir finished second with a time of 55.90 and Lending finished 11th with a time of 1:01.69. In the 800 Meters, Tavyn Larson and Noah Pope both had personal records. Larson finished in 13th with a time of 2:25.31 and Pope finished in 18th with a time of 2:39.79.

Zeke Olson set personal records in shotput (34-03.00) and discus (75-08) as well last season for the Rabbits.

For the girls, junior Katelyn Zeug set a personal record in the 200 Meters finishing second at 27.20 in the sub-section playoffs, won the 100 Meters with a 13.02, and won the Long Jump event at 13-02.00. Carly Fenger set a personal record in the same event with a score of 13-16.00.

Despite these accomplishments in the playoffs, Zeug was the only Rabbit to qualify for state. She competed in the long jump there and, like the rest of the team, will look to build off last year’s performances this season.

“We had several athletes new to track last year with 15 athletes,” Nichols said. “So last year we looked to see which events each kid liked and would have success in. We will be looking to build off of that this year.”

The Rabbits will have 29 total athletes coming back for this season. Senior Aidan Kampsen ran the distance and will help lead many young runners to join the team this upcoming season.

The Rabbits have four seniors with Mikayla Bliss, Kelly Bernardy, Christian Sanow, and Kampsen. Coach Nichols spoke on the expectations of the young Rabbits.

“My expectations are to build off what we started last year,” Nichols said. “We have more athletes with experience, so they know more of what to expect and how to train. Knowing what to expect at meets now, they can set goals for themselves that we will work towards throughout the season. We have a great group of leaders that I expect will help the younger and new athletes figure out what events they will thrive on and keep encouraging them throughout the season.”

The weather hasn’t permitted many of the spring teams to go outside and have normal practice. However, the Rabbits in the intermittent have been getting back in shape. Although it is not ideal to practice inside, the Rabbits are working hard and looking forward to getting outside for meets.

The Wabasso track and field team will next compete at Redwood valley on Tuesday at 4 p.m.