The first day of Spring was nearly ideal to hold Media Day for the Greene County High School track and field teams at Linduska Field in Jefferson. Kelly Simpson is the girls’ head coach and Dean Lansman is head coach of the boys. The teams run, throw, and jump indoors today in Storm Lake at the Buena Vista University high school meet for the first competition of the year. The outdoor season is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 31 in Jefferson at Linduska Field for the Greene County Early Bird Meet.

Both coaches are pleased with the number of students out with 40 boys and 25 girls. They noted they expect to be able to fill all 19 girls’ events and all 18 events for boys, which should help score team points.

The Rams return several past state coed meet performers on both teams including three of four legs on the girls’ shuttle hurdle relay that placed fifth in the state in Class 3A last spring. Those back are Kate Sandage, Sarah Sandage, and Eme Johnson. The boys shuttle hurdle relay was also a state qualifier in 2013 and three runners on that unit also return. Returners are Dylan McConnell, Daric Whipple, and Nick Brown. Senior Allison Higgins returns in the 3,000 and 1,500 meter events. She qualified for state in the 3,000 last year and last November placed third in the 3A state cross-country meet. Max Neese ran at state on the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 meter relays and JC Weitl was on the 4 x 400 relay. Emily Christensen qualified in the 400 meter dash while Kate Sandage was a qualifier in the 100 meter hurdles, and Emma Saddoris placed eighth in the long jump.

Two other girls were 2012 state qualifiers in Mollie Sorber (high jump) and Eme Johnson in the 400 meter hurdles.