Boys track and field preview
Head Coach T.J. Craig returns a young and experienced team that’s full of potential.
Alex McKane ’22 and Seth Cheney ’23 try to separate from the crowd at the start of the 3200-meter race at the Class 4A district track and field meet on May 13.
A premature ending to the 2020 outdoor track season was a major setback for success throughout the 2021 season.
Seniors Alex McKane and Caden Noeller, both state qualifiers, along with newcomer Asher Overholt ’23 ran one of the fastest 4×800 meter relay times in the conference last year.
Iowa State University commit, McKane is the school record holder in the 5K and the 2021 Iowa Cross Country Gatorade Player of the Year in addition to being a two-time First Team All-State selection.
In the sprints, Drake Relays and State Meet qualifiers, Nate Gudenkauf ’22 and Christian Janis ’23 return to the 4×100 relay and 4×200 relay along with freshman Iziah Loveless ’24 who had a breakout year, qualifying for the State Meet in the sprint medley relay, and will be a mainstay on the short sprints and relays.
Janis also qualified for the shuttle hurdle relay alongside Clay Bopp ’22. Bopp looks to return one last time and take a shot at the 400m hurdles.
Looking to have an even better season than last year’s, Coach Craig has expanded the staff with experienced, and competitive coaches.
Among the new additions are University of Iowa athletes Grant Conway, Will Daniels and Cortney Strohman. Daniels is an Olympic Trials qualifier in the decathlon and a D1 All-American while Grant Conway is a nationally rankled sprinter specializing in the hurdle events. Coach Strohman was a national qualifier in the 4×400 relays and holds one of the fastest 400m times in Iowa history.
Head football coach Garret Hartwig will also be out on the track this spring, helping out with various events. He was a state champion in the high jump in high school and a competitive hurdler.
The boys track team opens the indoor season at the Wartburg and UNI Relays on March 8.
Three weeks before the famous Drake Relays the Trojans will compete in the Hollingsworth Relays and the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival at home before making the cross-town trip to City High for the Forwald Relays.
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Barry Diallo is a first-year sports reporter and a junior at West. He is involved in sports year-round- playing football, basketball, and track. He's excited...
