Messenger photo by John McBride: Returning letterwinners for the Fort Dodge boys track team are, front row (left to right): Will McElroy, Zak Jorgensen, Jayce Point, Sam Moser, Noah Daniel and Kyree Rochon. Back: Cael hansen, Taevon Feeley, Tru McBride, Luke Beckley, Joseph Petersen and Luke Fierke.

The Fort Dodge boys track team has already shown signs of a potentially special season on the horizon.

Senior Noah Daniel, a four-time state qualifier, is healthy again and setting up for a strong ending to his high school career.

Daniel, who has qualified in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash the past two seasons, got off to a quick start during the indoor season.

Daniel, who will play football at the University of Iowa, won the 60-meter dash in the Riverhawk Invitational. He then set the indoor record at the Iowa Alliance Conference Meet with a 60-meter time of 6.94.

“We’re hoping Noah can keep growing and that he puts it all together this year,” said second-year FDSH head coach Nik Moser. “He has the potential to be one of the better runners in the 100 and 200.

“He is also versatile and can run in the 400.”

The Dodger senior was 15th and 12th in the 100 and 200 a year ago, respectively, last season. As a sophomore at state, Daniel crossed in 17th and 19th.

The Dodger quartet of Daniel, junior Jamarius Echols, junior Sam Moser and junior Jayce Point also won the sprint medley at the IAC Meet. Point also took the 800.

Echols, Moser, Daniel and senior Taevon Feeley won the 4×200, showing the Dodgers’ early strength indoors.

“Taevon is really versatile and can run from the 100 to a 400,” Moser said. “He’ll be in our relays and will also compete in the long jump.”

With the weather warming up, the Dodgers will take their talents outside in hopes of building a Drake Relays resume and taking as many events as possible back to Des Moines in May.

“The next step as a program is to qualify for the Drake Relays and get more than one (event) to state,” Moser said. “We want to be competing at Drake and state track.”

Eckley, a state qualifier as a sophomore, will be back for the pits as a senior high jumper.

“We’ve got kids that are good sprinters going all the way up to a 400,” Moser said. “We have distance kids that can go down to a 400.”

Moser and Echols have been solid sprinters in the indoor season. Moser was also a key piece last spring for the Dodgers.

“The junior class is strong,” Moser said. “Echols can run from a 100 to an 800, and we’ll lean on him for our relays. Sam will offer a lot of versatility as well.”

Moser said the Dodgers are set in the sprints and will be able to have competitive relays.

“Rochon, (junior) Will (McElroy) and (senior Jaxson) Lowrey-Jones will also get some opportunities in relays,” Moser said. “(Junior) Tru (McBride) will run some 100s and 200s and some relays, along with sophomore Luke Beckley, who did a good job sprinting for us last year.”

Junior Cael Hansen and Point will be key distance runners for FDSH. Hansen can run from an 800 to the two mile.

“Both Cael and Jayce have the capability of running a 1:57 or 1:58 in the 800,” Moser said. “We should be good in the distance medley as well.

“Senior Siemon Roberts and freshman Jones Hensley are strong in the distance events as well.”

Moser said the Dodgers are young in the hurdles, with junior Mason Bolton and Brock Nelson flanked by freshmen Aaron Perez and Riley Klein.

Feeley will be a long jumper, as well as Jones.

In the throwing events will be senior Luke Fierke, sophomores Brody Maehl, Coy Nichols, Memphis Donahe and Nolan Ahrens, and junior Kellen Crouse.

Moser will be assisted by John McBride, Kyron Wilson and volunteer assistant Sam Moser.

2026 FORT DODGE BOYS TRACK

Roster

Seniors — Noah Daniel, Dalton Eckley, Taevon Feeley, Jaxson Lowrey-Jones, Simeon Roberts, Zain Rowe.

Juniors — Colin Appler, Ezrah Barkhaus, Alex Beekman, Mason Bolton, Kellin Crouse, Korben Davis, Jamarius Echols, Cael Hansen, Zak Jorgensen, Tru McBride, Will McElroy, Sam Moser, Kingston Phillips, Jayce Point, Jayon Preston-Grady, Kyree Rochon.

Sophomores — Cael Adams, Nolan Ahrens, Luke Beckley, Avery Bryhne, Memphis Donahe, Brody Maehl, Amari McCaleb, Brock Nelson, Coy Nichols, Fernando Ortega, Joseph Petersen, Eli Pritchard, Anthony Roberts, Spencer Smith.

Freshmen — Mykel Benedict, Mason Dornath, Mason Hughes, Jaysawn Jackson, Riley Klein, Liam Kraft, Matias Lacina, Cooper Marvin, Conner Marvin, Aaron Perez.

Schedule

March 28 — at Des Moines East.

April 2 — at Ballard; 6 — at Boone Invitational; 9 — at Marshalltown (Kenny Dean Relays); 11 — at Jim Duncan Invitational (Drake Stadium); 13 — Dodger Relays; 16 — at Cedar Falls; 27 — at Mason CIty (Dave Long Relays).

May 5 — Iowa Alliance Conference Meet (Dodger Stadium).