Submitted photo/information The 2026 Wabasso track and field team. Front row (l-r): Kouper Beerman, Elsie Leopold, Iyla Guetter, Mila Guetter, Scarlett Hillesheim, Maddy Fogelson, Melany Kramer, Leah Mathiowetz, Liz Morin, Carly Fenger, Cadence Pope, Emma Kolander, Addison Struntz, Ari Johnson and Abi Zeug. Back row (l-r): Nick Plaetz, KJ Beerman, Nolan Leopold, Karson Martius, Duncan Woelfel, Bryson Kampsen, Braedan Ricketts, Paxton Huhnerkoch, Zeke Olson, Wyatt Brockberg, Brillan Wagner, Andrew Morin, Nolan Hanson, Drake Brockberg, Camden Novak and Kody Thielges.

WABASSO — In his second season as Wabasso Rabbits track and field head coach, Dylan Woodford is excited to see his team continue to grow and improve throughout the season, bolstered by a strong and experienced boys team.

“This is the deepest boys team we have had in quite a few years,” Woodford said. “We have athletes that can finish in the top five throughout every event. The boys will look to be especially strong in the jumps. Seniors Zeke Olson and Tavyn Larson look to be at the top of the long and triple jumps. Both placed top three at the conference meet last year in both.”

Woodford said Olson is a Swiss Army knife that placed in the shot put, 4×200, long jump and triple jump last year in the Tomahawk-Valley Conference meet. Woodford said Larson is looking to set the school record in the triple jump after a strong effort in the event last season where he finished first in the conference meet with a triple jump of 39 feet, 4.5 inches.

Brillan Wagner returns as the boys’ top thrower, looking to improve on his top throws of 144-6 in the discus and 39-6 in the shot put. Woodford’s top sprinter back from last year is Nolan Leopold, who finished eighth in the section last season in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the section in the 200.

Tyson Lightfoot, top three in the conference last year in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, is also back. His PRs are 17:48 in the 110 hurdles and 42.24 in the 300 hurdles. Distance runner Andrew Morin is also back for the Rabbits boys after taking first in last season’s conference meet in the 3,200 and third in the section in the event. His PR in the 3,200 was 10:14.

Despite the deep boys roster, the Wabasso girls can’t be overlooked.

“The girls have a good group of sprinters returning,” Woodford said. “They will look to make a state push in the relays. Carly Fenger, Emma Kolander, Elsie Leopold, Melany Kramer and Liz Morin will be strong contributors in the sprints and mid distances.”

Fenger was called the girls’ top sprinter and returned for her senior year to compete in the 100, 200 and relay events, while Morin returns to compete in the long jump with a PR of 15-4.5 and second-place finish in the conference last season.

Leopold, who competed at the state cross-country meet twice in her young career, was called very versatile by Woodford and someone who can compete in sprints, mid-distance and long distance.

“Elsie Leopold returns after missing most of her eighth-grade season to injury,” Woodford said. “Elsie is a two-time state cross country runner that looks to add a spark to our mid-distance runners.”

Kolander was called a great leader and captain by Woodford and will be expected to lead the sprinter group this season, while senior Aaliyah Flowers returns as a girls leader in the hurdles and triple jump and will be looking to defend her Tomahawk-Valley triple jump title, which was a PR jump for her of 30-8.

Woodford said there will be some areas to work on this season, but he looks forward to seeing progress.

“The biggest area for improvement will be depth in the long distances,” Woodford said. “We have a lot of young runners coming through and we are excited to see the distance program continue to grow.”

WIth the deep boys roster, Woodford has some younger athletes that could step up despite limited varsity experience, one being Nick Plaetz.

“Nick Plaetz returns as a strong eighth-grader looking to become one of our top sprinters and jumpers,” Woodford said.

Woodford is looking forward to continuing to develop his athletes as the season goes in hopes of strong finishes at the conference meet and Section 3A meet.

“I think that we have a very good conference,” he said. “Every team is full of great athletes again. Mankato Loyola/Cleveland and River Valley are always great competitors and at the top of the conference. It is always fun going against the bigger schools in our conference and seeing how we stack up.”

Note: Stay tuned for additional area track and field previews, which will be inserted in this year’s Journal Spring Prep Preview in April.