Orono track and field teams stretch for a new season

ORONO BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Last year’s results: Won Section 4AA True Team meet, third place at Wright County Conference meet

Key returners: 

Senior Chase Myhran (high jump, long jump), junior Justin Doop (800 meter, 1,600 meter), junior Paul Brockley (400 meter, 800 meter), senior Sam Persian (400 meter), senior Bryce Jackson (sprints), senior Ben Nelson (high jump, discus throw) and senior Chris Whitmore (discus thrower, pole vault)

Key losses:

Wyatt Doop (distance runner), Jordan Perry (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash), Alec Schultz (3,200 meter)

Conference outlook: 

Orono finished one point behind Delano for second place at the 2010 Wright County Conference Meet, and the Spartans have high expectations heading into 2011. New to the conference is Hutchinson, a traditionally strong track and field school. Expect Hutchinson to compete with Orono, Delano and defending champion Glencoe-Silver Lake for the 2011 crown.

Section outlook:

Orono edged favorite New Prague for the Section 4AA True Team crown by 52.5 points in 2010, but coach Justin McCoy expects the margin to be “a lot closer this year.”

New Prague has been the powerhouse of Section 4AA for a number of years and, like Orono, the Trojans expect to come out on top in 2011. 

“The competition is going to be real solid,” McCoy said.

ORONO GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Last year’s results: Ninth place at Wright County Conference meet, placed ninth at True Team Section 4AA Meet

Key returners: 

Freshman Victoria Barbetta (1,600 meter), junior Abby Challgren (400 meter), junior Sophia Sodhi (long jump, sprint), sophomore Hanna Deters (sprints, long jump), sophomore Cora McCuskey (sprints, long jump), junior Lauren Nehotte (400 meter), senior Taylor Seibold (1,600 meter, 3,200 meter)

Key losses: 

Taylor Sellers (long jump, triple jump)

Conference outlook: 

After finishing last in the Wright County Conference in 2010, Orono is looking to strengthen its young core and build a solid foundation for future years.

The Spartans know they’re not the top competition of conference favorites Waconia and Mound-Westonka, but they’re hoping to change that by pulling off an upset or two. Head coach Justin McCoy says the team’s goal is land a top-five finish in conference.

Section outlook: 

Waconia (second in 2010) and Mound-Westonka (sixth) will be strong, but not as tough as defending champion New Prague.

Other teams to watch include Chanhassen (third), Belle Plaine/Holy Family Academy (fourth), and Holy Family Catholic (fifth). For McCoy, a top-seven finish (out of 13 teams) at the True Team Meet would be “a huge accomplishment,” for the Spartans, and it’s not out of reach.

McCoy says the key toward that accomplishment is stealing a win or two against the section’s elite teams.