Mound-Westonka Track Teams Prepare for Spring

MOUND-WESTONKA BOYS TRACK AND FIELD 

Last season: Sixth place at Wright County Conference meet; placed seventh at True Team Section 4AA meet

Key returners:

Senior A.J. Vanecek (1600 meter, 3200 meter, 800 meter), junior Parker Wharram (1600 meter), senior Corey Cushing (long jump, 100 meter), sophomore Grant Pietkron (400 meter)

Conference outlook: 

It will be a rebuilding year for the White Hawks, who return a number of talented distance runners but lack depth. Senior A.J. Vanecek and junior Parker Wharram will make Mound-Westonka competitive in the mile, the 4x800 relay, and perhaps a few other distance events. The White Hawks will struggle to compete in the other events, however, which will likely land them in the bottom-half of the Wright County Conference.

“With the numbers we have out this year, we’re hoping for a seventh-place finish,” coach Jason Tuttle said.

Section outlook:

Tuttle believes his veterans can post a few individual victories in section competition. “We’re hoping to get a few kids to perform well,” Tuttle said. “I think we have a chance with our distance kids.”

Orono and New Prague will be the Hawks’ top competition in the True Team Section 4AA Meet. Both teams feature deep lineups that Mound-Westonka will struggle to match; and Tuttle said the Hawks will be best suited to aim for a sixth- or seventh-place finish. Once again, they’ll have to rely on their veteran distance runners to stand a chance.

MOUND-WESTONKA GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Last season: Third place at Wright County Conference meet; placed sixth True Team Section 4AA meet

Key returners:

Senior Julia Harrison (800 meter, 1600 meter, 4x800 relay), senior Hallie Wollner (300 meter hurdles), sophomore Molly Wollner (200 meter), senior Emma Finney (4x200 relay)

Conference outlook: 

The White Hawks are young but talented, and they expect another top-five finish in the Wright County Conference. They finished third last season behind Annandale and defending champion Waconia. To reach that mark again, they’ll need to keep pace with those teams and Hutchinson, a new addition to the conference and a traditionally strong track and field school. “We don’t know what to expect from Hutchinson,” coach Jason Tuttle said.

Mound-Westonka’s strength is on the track, where it is led by Harrison, an 800 meter state qualifier in 2010. Despite the loss of Brown, a state qualifier in the 110 meter hurdles, the Hawks should be able to rebound and post consistent victories in the 800 meter, 1600 meter, and the relays.

Section outlook:

The Hawks’ sixth-place finish at last year’s True Team Section 4AA Meet is deceptive; they finished five points behind Holy Family Catholic for fifth place, 19 points behind Belle Plaine/Holy Family Academy for fourth and 80.5 points ahead of Benilde-St. Margaret’s for sixth. 

Individually, the Hawks have high hopes for Harrison at sections. After watching her qualify for state in the 800 meter run in 2010, Tuttle is hoping for Harrison to “focus on that [event] this year and score well in that event.” The Wollner sisters might have a shot at qualifying for state as well, with Hallie running the 300 meter hurdles and Molly running the 200 meter dash.