-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge girls Track and Field returning letterwinners are, left to right, Front Row: Ashlyn Wills, Ava Wessels, Anelieje Schuy,Jonaya Foy, Tatum Harms Back Row: Mackenzie McIlrath, Carsyn Zehr, Maeleena Meyer, Lucy Porter, Teryn Rippentrop, LJ Maehl

It’s all about finding the right fit and right events for the Fort Dodge girls track team.

Head coach Todd Constable feels he has the numbers to be able to put some points on the board.

“We have 45 kids and it’s a solid 45,” Constable said. “With track, I’ve learned you have to train smarter not harder and I’m hoping we’ll be able to do that. It was a good start for us with the warm spring.

“Now we are seeing what we normally see in spring. When we start outdoors we have to be careful with how we have to train, because you can’t over train.”

Seniors Mackenzie McIlrath and Carsyn Zehr, along with juniors Lucy Porter and Ashlyn Wills are back as letterwinners for the Dodgers.

Senior Macy Brown has joined the track team for the first time and junior Meah McCaleb will be looking to fill some spots for the Dodgers.

Also returning as letterwinners are Maeleena Meyer, Teryn Rippentrop, LJ Maehl, Ava Wessels, Aneliese Schuur, Jonaya Foy and Tatum Harms.

McIlrath is the only Dodger with state experience, qualifying for the high jump as a sophomore.

“Makenzie has lettered all four years and was a state qualifier,” Constable said. “She is really good in the high jump and can score some points in the quarters.”

Maehl will run the 400 hurdles and Porter will run some quarters as well as part of the 4×400.

“LJ and Lucy will be counted on to score some points,” Constable said. “They are both extremely consistent and hard workers.

Zehr is a distance runner who will score some points.

“She is athletic enough to run the 800, 1,500 and 3,000,” Constable said. “She can help us in a lot of areas with distance.”

Both Wills and Wessels ran varsity and both helped in 100s and 200s. Schuur will also run 100s and can run 200s.

“She (Schuur) worked pretty hard and can get us some points,” Constable said. “She can also run quarters and is working toward that in the early season.”

Meyer will mainly be a hurdler, but Constable says she is “athletic enough that she can be put in relays.”

Davis had a strong indoor season and will be good for the Dodgers in the quarters.

“Lily had a good indoor season,” Constable said. “Meah was not out last year, but will run some 200s. She is amazing and is pretty healthy after a basketball injury.”

Constable sees the field events as a work in progress with some younger athletes.

McIlrath will be the leader in the field events for the Dodgers in the high jump area. Alejandra Manzanilla will long jump and Laryn Ferris will do it as well.

Joining Maehl as a shot putter will be freshmen Ellie Doster and Ky’Mariana Mosley.

Constable has 24 freshmen that will look to score some points.

Madison Carmody, Hope Alstott, Kenzie Halverson and Maddie Hoshaw will help the Dodgers along the way.

Sophomores Jonaya Foy and Tatum Harms will also vie for spots.

“Madison (Carmody) and Hope are doing really well and will do some sprints and mix in with the 4×1 and 4×2,” Constable said. “Tatum is one of the most improved and ran well indoors and improved a ton.

“Kenzie and Maddie (Hoshaw) look the part of 400 runners. By the time she is done, Maddie will be pretty good. She is super athletic, tall and lengthy and works hard.”

Constable will be assisted by Jon Koenig and Scott Timmerman.

2024 FORT DODGE GIRLS TRACK

Seniors

Macy Brown, Lilly Davis, Mackenzie McIlrath, Carsyn Zehr.

Juniors

Meah McCaleb, Lucy Porter, Samantha Smith, Ashlyn Wills.

Sophomores

Daisy Areliano, Hayleigh Black, Laryn Ferris, Jonaya Foy, Tatum Harms, Cameron Lundberg, LJ Maehl, Alejandra Manzanilla, Maeleena Meyer, Riley Richardson, Tieryn Rippentrop, Aneliese Schuur, Ava Wessels.

Freshmen

Hope Alstott, Grace Bohon, Madison Carmody, Syndal Castaneda Rogers, Olivia Daniel, Ellie Doster, Parker Gale, Joely Gilbert, Kenzie Halverson, Tamara Hamilton-Nighthunder, Maddie Hoshaw, Destiny Humble, Brooklyn Kaloupek, Alivia Klepsteen, Reina Lacina, Maleah Landfair, Camila Lopes, Ky’Mariana Mosley, Saiya Noborikawa, Izzabella Prather, Cecilia Sanchez, Ainsley Seltz, Sammantha Welter, Calliegh Zimmermann.

Schedule

April 2 — at Mason City; 4 — at Eagle Grove; 9 — at Algona; 13 — at Drake Stadium; 15 — at Greene County; 18 — Dodger Relays; 25-27 — at Drake Relays; 26 — at South Central Calhoun.

May 2 — at Des Moines East.