The North Butler boys track and field team was prepared for their first meet since March 13 and the girls their first meet of the season as they were scheduled to compete at Saint Ansgar on Tuesday. That meet has been postponed due to weather to April 14. The Bearcats first meet is now scheduled to be on Thursday at Central Springs.
North Butler Boys Head Coach Kirk Clark on strategy to help keep athletes fresh during busy weeks ahead.
“We’re going to have two meets every week, Tuesday and Thursday, mainly. I plan on changing some things around and trying a lot of different things out, more than I’ve done in the past,” says Clark. “Then we can see what we can get worked up, see what successes we can have with a lot of other events and different people in different events. That’s the plan right now.”
Ezra Almelien returns as the Bearcat boys lone state meet qualifier in the 3200m (23rd) and is joined by experienced distance teammates Trager Pecha, Alex Almelien and Brady Henning.
Clark on this distance running core and events they can fill.
“It’s just amazing what they push themselves to do. Of course, led by Ezra Amelien and Trager Pecha. Alex Amelien, he’s a senior this year and he’s really working hard. He’s got a goal, he’d like to get to state. Brady Henning, he’s a junior, it’s the first year he’s been out for track for me, otherwise he’s done cross country before. Wow, that kid can run and I’m really impressed with what he’s done this spring so far with the other boys too. We’re gonna have a good DMED, maybe 4×800, plus we’ll have some distance races covered so we can score a lot of points in that hopefully.”
Clayton Towsley has also had a strong spring with top 10 placings in 200m (2nd) and high jump (4th) during indoor season.
The North Butler girls return three state qualifiers, Addison Voelker in the 1500m (8th) and 3000m (6th), Laney Brinkman in the 400m hurdles (19th) and Izzy O’Dowd in the discus (23rd).
The Bearcats next meet is scheduled for Thursday at Central Springs.
