Starting off the season with one of its largest teams ever, the Mount Si High School boys and girls track and field team has set a goal of making the school a larger presence at state competition.

COACH: Gregg Meyers is the head boys coach and Dave Clifford is the head girls coach.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR: Numbers are the big difference this season. The track team have about 160 runners, jumpers and throwers this year, with high participation in the field events.

“We have a lot of new people who can help grow the team,” said pole vaulter Abby Weber, a senior. She estimated 16 competitors would be in the pole vaulting categories alone this season, and “a lot of freshmen.”

“The team is bigger this year, but I feel like there’s a bigger sense of camaraderie, too,” said Baly Botten, also a senior pole vaulter.

One reason for that is likely the coaching staff’s decision a few seasons back to assign student athletes to specific leadership roles and to lead individual events practices.

“We’re seeing a lot of students take charge and lead the team,” said Jacob Wachtendonk, a senior javelin thrower. It’s helping to make the team strong now and stronger in the future.

With student mentors, he explained, “you really feel like you’re part of the track program. You have someone you can go to for help… people are growing up in track.”

GOALS: Track is both an individual and a team sport. Both Botten and Wachtendonk are taking aim at the school records in their events – more than 16 feet for Botten and more than 206 feet for Wachtendonk. All of the seniors hope to bring more members of their growing team to state competition, too.

“I’d like to see a lot of people go to state,” said Wachtendonk, “to really have Mount Si be a presence at state.”

DON’T-MISS MEET: Any of the home meets will be good, the athletes say, but they are especially looking forward to the Mount Si Invitational, Saturday, April 23.