CANBY — The Canby/Minneota track and field has returned a handful of athletes with strong state and section tournament and experience as it looks to embark on another 2026 successful season, with hopes of returning back to the big stage.

Last season, the Canby/Minneota boys team competed at the statet tournament and finished 20th overall out of 76 competing teams in 24 events.

The Lancers will be without Cayden Anderson on the boys team, who graduated last season. He placed second at state in shot put with a 55-08.25, and fifth in discus with a 159-11.

In the section tournament last season, Canby/Minneota had a strong 4×400 relay group that took fifth place with a 3:39.19. Blake Giese, Kendon Knutson, Brett Stoks and Tallen Merritt made up the team, all of who return this season as juniors except Giese who has since graduated. Giese also was strong in the discus and pole vault events, placing fourth and third, respectively, at sections.

Landen Beherns, Anderson Yanez and Owen Peterson are also strong returning runners this season for the Lancers, who made up a team with Stoks in the 4×100 at last year’s sections that placed 15th.

On the girls side, Claire Stoks, Nohemi Diaz and Natalie Stoks have all since graduated that played big roles for the Lancers last season, particularly in the running events.

But, Canby/Minneota still has several reliable returners to help fill the gap.

Mya Pesek, Rachel Jelen, Jordyn Jostock, Brynn Kockelman, Taylor Ourada and Kallie DeVos are a few returning key players this season, all of whom have had successful running events in the past.

In last year’s sections, the Lancers impressively had three different relay teams all take second place — In the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800, in which Jostock was on all three teams and returns as a sophomore this season.

Karlie Wollum is back for her senior season, who is a reliable jumper for the Lancers. She took fourth in long jump and fifth in the high jump in sections last year.

So far in the 2026 outdoor season, Minneota/Canby has seen some early success it looks to continue building on. Notably, the girls team has a trio of second-place team finishes, at the Montevideo, Worthington and Redwood Valley invites. The boys team also placed second at the Montevideo meet.

Track and field sections are slated to take place in the first week of May, as the Lancers ultimately keep their eyes set on honing in on their strengths to pick up some postseason success.