Nearly half of 2016 Kee girls track team made up of returning letterwinners

The Kee girls track team will feature just short of half of this season’s crew returning with varsity letterwinning experience from last season. Seven veterans from last spring will be joined by some promising first-year competitors and others returning to the program after a brief absence to make up this season’s squad currently consisting of 15 total competitors.
Within that veteran crew of seven are juniors Sierra Schobert and Sydney Strong, along with sophomores Kendra Cooper, Annabelle Dibert, Ashley Schwartzhoff, Chloe Severson and Nicki Wood. “I look for great leadership from those seven,” Kee girls track coach Chad Winters said. “They know what is expected at practice and at meets.  I expect that they will show the newcomers how to work hard.”
Just one senior headlines this season’s upperclassman effort. “We have one lone senior, Erin Rud,” Coach Winters explained. “Erin is back out after a year away. She works hard in practice and has a great attitude.”
This year’s group leaves Coach Winters with one of the broadest selections of athletes that his program has had in the longer sprint and middle distance events. “We have a strong core to work through the 200s, 400s and 800s,” he said. “It leaves me with quite a few options during meets.”
Coach Winters is also looking to expand this season’s efforts to focus on a broader array of competition, seeing potential contributions in a variety of different events. “We have a couple holes that we are hoping to be able to address by the season’s end,” he said. “Hurdlers, high jump and the 3000 are events that we will be working towards throughout the season.”
One thing the Hawks will have to work to overcome from last season is the graduation loss of one of its contributors at the highest level of competition. “State qualifier Val Meyer leaves a big hole in the field events, especially shot put,” Coach Winters explained.
Early-season efforts have the veteran coach optimistic about what this season may entail, although there are certainly challenges that may lie ahead. “All of the girls have started off the season with a great attitude, they have worked extremely hard up to this point,” Coach Winters remarked. “We need to continue to develop during the season and stay away from the nagging injuries that could slow us down.”
Those in-team challenges will likely be added to by competition against some of the traditionally strong programs within the Upper Iowa Conference. “Central Elkader, Turkey Valley and South Winn are always tough,” Coach Winters said.
But that same competition throughout the season can also help push the Hawks to their ultimate goal for this season. “We hope to qualify multiple events for the State Track Meet,” speculated Coach Winters.
The Hawks were scheduled to begin their journey toward that ultimate goal with the Upper Iowa Conference Indoor Meet at Luther College in Decorah Monday, March 21. The Kee girls will then prepare for their first outdoor meet, Tuesday, April 5 at Postville.