Some of the team leaders for this season's Maricopa High School track and field. Meet them individually in gallery below. Photo by William Lange

The Maricopa High School track and field team is looking for a successful 2016 campaign.

“Our goals for this season will be developing the young talent we have from last year, and this year while trying to get the few older kids to excel in their events,” head coach Sheldon Hutchinson said. “We are looking to score in the top five at the divisional meet and take our top athletes to the state meet and place in the top five individually.”

This year’s track team will be much larger than previous seasons. Despite having just 12 girls and 11 boys returning from 2015, the 2016 team will feature 59 girls and 73 boys.

“Last year we did very well considering our smaller numbers, but we had seven four-year veterans on the team that were able to help with our boys’ team placing in the top three at the divisional meet,” Hutchinson said. “This year we are very young all around. Both girls’ and boys’ teams have a large number of freshmen. Even our seniors are young as well with the exception of one four-year senior. The rest are two- or three-year track athletes.”

On the girls’ side, senior Jada Wright is expected to lead the team in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. Junior Amanda Maciel should have an impact in the distance categories as well. Senior Mysia Hudson and junior Leilena Young are expected to shine in the field events.

Outside of the upper-class leadership, freshmen Shannon Coutre and Alayja Reynolds will look to make a name for themselves on the track. Coutre will run the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run, while Reynolds focuses on the sprints.

On the boys’ side of the track, experienced sophomores Sam Coles and Jesse Gaines want to build off of a successful cross country season and shine in the distance runs.

Senior Michael Herbig and junior Dakota Halverson will look to make an impact in the throwing events, and senior Aaron Owens must fill a huge gap left by 2015 graduates Kenny Gay and William Blocker in the hurdling department.

“Despite our youth, I think we will have a very strong season,” Hutchinson said.

The Rams are in action for their first of two home meets this season on Wednesday afternoon.

Schedule
March 2    (H) Vista Grande, Apache Junction                        4 p.m.
March 5    @ Rattler Booster Invitational                              9:30 a.m.
March 16    @ Casa Grande                                                      3:30 p.m.
March 18-19    @Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational            TBA
March 23    @ Notre Dame                                                      3 p.m.
March 26    @ Becky Mathews Invitational/Desert Vista    TBA
March 30    @ Arcadia                                                                3:30 p.m.
April 2        @ Red Rock Invitational/Sedona                         10 a.m.
April 8        (H) Maricopa Twilight (senior night)                     4 p.m.
April 13    @ Apache Junction                                                   3:30 p.m.
April 15    @ HoHoKam Invitational/Westwood                    10 a.m.
April 22    @ SW Valley Championships/Queen Creek        TBA
April 27    @ Desert Vista Last Chance                                    TBA
May 4        @ State Championships                                         TBA
May 7        @ State Championships                                         TBA