Early success has Wildcats excited for the future
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ALPENA -- There's still a lot of season yet to go, but the Alpena High boys track team has been steadily improving and showcasing its talent in recent weeks.
"We've got a pretty solid core," Alpena coach Matt Kolar said. "The competition has been tough, but they've fared well so far."
Alpena's roster is small, but the Wildcats are making the most of the meets it competes in and has standouts throughout its lineup.
In the sprints, Kolar has leaned on a group of returners, including juniors Julian Stevens, Joseph Sheridan, Elyja Chism, senior Cam Young, and sophomores Quinn Kelly, Ty Dever. Freshman Thorin Rogers is in the mix as well and has the second-fastest time this season in the 100 dash.
In the middle and long distance running events, Alpena's mix includes Kelly, sophomores Hayden Bacchus, Kenan Knight, Thurston Imhoff, senior Elijah Allen, and junior John Kurowski.
One thing that has stood out in the early going this season is Alpena's continued improvement. Numerous runners and field event participants have all hit new PRs and Kolar hopes those times and distances continue to get better as the weather warms up.
"I'm a data guy," Kolar said. "The guys are doing phenomenally well and I'm happy with the progress that we've made."
One area that has Kolar excited is in the relays, where Alpena has already turned in some solid times. Alpena's 400 relay team of Rogers, Sheridan, Chism and Dever turned in a time of 45.97 seconds last week against Traverse City West and the Wildcats' top 800 relay team of Rogers, Young, Sheridan, and Stevens turned in a time of 1:36.13 two meets ago in Midland.
"We do a lot of sprint training for faster times," Kolar said. "The goal is to put names on (Alpena's record) board. We're beating marks and times we haven't touched in years."
In the field events, Alpena's rotation includes Dever, Hitzelberger, Allen in the long jump; Young, Wesley Decker and Eric Eades in the pole vault; Stevens in the high jump; and Sheridan, Carson Najmowicz, Austin Reinhardt and Braeden Mathis in the 110 and 300 hurdles.
Colt Gray, Brady Carlson, Oliver Duthler, Aidan Weitting and Nic Geister are among those in the mix for Alpena in both the shot put and discus.
Allen is Alpena's lone returning state qualifier and competed in the 300 hurdles at the Division 1 state finals last season.
Time will tell how Alpena finishes the season, but early returns have Kolar excited for the rest of the season.
"We're earning points and getting medals pretty much everywhere," Kolar said. "We're not competing in easy meets and they're contributing and we're placing."