By Joanna Chadwick
Andale boys and girl track teams consistently prove they must be reckoned with on the state level.
This season is no different.
“This is probably the most kids we’ve ever had,” coach Tyler Ryan said. “We’ve got 120-130 kids out this year.”
It’s why he was at the Kingman meet on Tuesday.
“I look all over for track meets so we can get all our kids competing,” he said. “We try to spend a lot of time early in the year, just constantly shuffling kids around to find the best fit for them and for us.
“I know everyone wants to throw javelin or run the 100 meters, but we only have three spots in each. They may have to run the 400 or 800 or go distance. I just want to make sure I find enough meets where they get a chance to compete.”
Here are some of the athletes to watch this season:
Sophomore Brayden Spexarth
“Brayden has done some really good things in the jav and is helping us out in the discus,” Ryan said. “He’s going to be really good. His dad, Robbie, is our javelin coach, and he does a phenomenal job with our throwers.”
Senior Ethan Eck
“He was a stud wrestler, state champion, and he’s doing some really good things in the triple for us,” Ryan said.
Sophomore Parker Lies
“He’s a 110 hurdler. He just broke our school record for the sophomore record,” Ryan said. “He broke Greg Smarsh’s record, and he’s doing some good things here. He went 14.99 at Great Bend.”
Senior Colt Lane
“He’s a senior pole vaulter, and he kind of struggled last year,” Ryan said. “He just wasn’t where he hoped to be. He went 15-9 in Great Bend, so it’s starting to come together for him. He hadn’t gone more than 14-6 since his sophomore year.”
“He just had to grind it out, keeping showing up and put in the work and good things will happen.”
Senior Wyatt Helten
“He just keeps getting better and better. He went 6-2 in the high jump for us,” Ryan said.
Senior Rylee Meyer
“She’s run 11.73 in the 100, 25.06 in the 200,” Ryan said. “She’s a good long jumper for us. Back-to-back state state champ in the 100 meters. She’s got high expectations.”
Senior Hally Horsch
“She’s a senior that’s doing some really good things,” Ryan said.
Junior Paige Brand
“She’s Mrs. Consistent. She always throws about the same and does a really good job with that, earning points,” Ryan said.
