Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond girls track returning letterwinners are, front row (left to right): Hannah Landwehr, Michela Leiting, Faith Shirbroun, Brianna Saathoff and Josie Harvey. Back: Sasha Hess, Anna Lursen, Reese Lemberg, Andee Barwin and Ellie Knox.

For St. Edmond head girls track and field coach CJ Tracy, finding different ways to describe his current roster is difficult.

But that is a good thing.

Tracy has nearly 20 athletes among the four grade levels, led by a quartet of senior regulars.

“Drive,” Tracy said. “I just can’t say enough about the drive they all have as a team. And that all starts with the seniors.”

Seniors Andee Barwin, Hannah Landwehr, Michaela Leiting and Reese Lemberg bring big-meet experience with them, as all four have been involved in state track, cross country and cheerleading.

Juniors Josie Harvey, Sasha Hess and Ellie Knox, along with sophomores Faith Shirbroun, Brianna Saathoff and Anna Lursen all ran on the blue oval last year inside Drake Stadium. The Gaels add in Fort Dodge Senior High state qualifier Mariah Myers to the throwing events.

“It’s just a very competitive, very driven group that is a lot of fun to coach,” Tracy said. “Honestly, we are just the cheerleaders for them. They are the ones out there working hard and competing.”

Lursen was 10th in the Class 1A 400 at state last year and also was the anchor on the 4×400 that finished 13th in prelims. Knox, Landwehr and Hess completed that unit, with Shirbroun, Hess, Saathoff and Lursen running the 16th place sprint medley relay.

Harvey advanced in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.98. Leiting, Knox, Landwehr and Lursen ran the 4×800.

Myers, meanwhile, was a double-qualifier in 4A, placing third in the discus and 13th in the shot put.

“It’s very nice to add her to the team,” Tracy said. “Going into meets knowing that we are going to score points in the field events is an added bonus. We’ve had girls compete there in the past and score points here or there, but Mariah is going to really be a big addition.”

St. Edmond opened the season with a handful of indoor events, led by a pair of third place finishes from Lursen and Myers.

“We had a lot of girls running during the winter sports seasons,” Tracy said. “We had a lot of girls running over spring break. I just love the fact that they are putting in time and effort to be the best they can be.

“And the older girls have done an excellent job of leading by example for the newcomers. Everybody is just pushing each other and supporting each other. It’s a close knit group who has goals they want to accomplish.”

Rounding out the roster will be sophomore Maggie Flaherty and Addison Schmitz along with freshmen Lily Eslick, McKenna Kvale, Alex Leiting, Myrah Lemon, Sophia Schlienz and Abby Tofilon.

Tracy will once again be assisted by Mike Landwehr.

St. Edmond opens the outdoor season on Saturday in Algona for the CYO. They will run at the Dodger Relays on April 18.

2024 ST. EDMOND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Roster

Seniors

Andee Barwin, Hannah Landwehr, Michaela Leiting, Reese Lemberg.

Juniors

Josie Harvey, Sasha Hess, Ellie Knox, Mariah Myers.

Sophomores

Maggie Flaherty, Anna Lursen, Addisyn Schmitz, Brianna Saathoff, Faith Shirbroun.

Freshmen

Lily Eslick, McKenna Kvale, Alex Leiting, Myrah Lemon, Sophia Schlienz, Abby Tofilon.

Schedule

March 24 — at CYO in Algona.; 26 — at Earlham.

April 2 — at Southeast Valley; 9 — at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 11 — at Manson Northwest Webster; 16 — at Pocahontas Area; 18 — at Dodger Relays; 26 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 29 — at Iowa Falls-Alden.

May 2 — at NCC meet in Hampton.