Troy track and field team hits the ground running

Troy track and field coaches saw a strong turnout at the team’s first practice last week.

Fourteen-year head coach Neil Newton and assistant coach Jeff Hawk, himself a 12-year veteran of the program, welcomed 16 athletes to their first practice on March 14.

“That’s a good number,” Newton said. “We also have four girls on the team. I wish there were more, but that’s a big step up also.”

Of the 16 athletes warming up in the gymnasium this week, two were seniors. The track team boasts two juniors, four sophomores and eight freshmen. A young squad, to be sure.

“Young and inexperienced” is a descriptor that generally augers poorly for the season ahead. “Young and inexperienced with potential.” Well, that’s much better.

A known talent in the form of junior Trevor Grant is donning the track jersey again this year. As a sophomore, Grant qualified for the state track meet. A consistent performer all season long, Trevor’s best time included a 2:07 800-meter run and a 4:48 1,600-meter run.

Impressive times for a sophomore. Look for even better performances and a state medal this year.

The unknown with potential rests with the eight freshmen. While never having competed in a high school meet, they boast impressive performances on the junior high track team.

Kempton Sloan and Cody Todd cleared 5-foot-2 in the high jump. Todd also hit 17 feet in the long jump.

Freshman Autumn Fisher ran the 400 meter in 1:04. Classmate Cortenie Rogers cleared 13 feet and 3 inches in the long jump.

Freshman Trapper Savage will compete in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter events this year.

The young guns have until March 26 to turn that potential into better times and distances. That’s when the Trojans will travel to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to compete in a meet that features teams from Idaho, Montana and Washington.