Spring has arrived like grandkids running around their grandparents’ living room after a long drive across the country. Things are getting green, mosquitos are in the air, the fishing fleet has been blessed and the Haines High School track team has started working out. Jessie and Haley Sanders are returning coaches. Haley Sanders said they were glad to be out early this year training on the school’s outdoor track. “Gary [Stigen] drug it so it’s flat and we have been able to get out two weeks earlier than last year.”
She described junior J.C. Davis as a force. “He was the standout athlete at regionals last year, winning in hurdles and discus. He eats right, sleeps right and works hard.”
She also noted senior Ari’el Godinez-Long as one of the team’s top performers. Godinez-Long will be competing in the 800 meters, long and triple jumps, and two of the relay races. Emma Dohrn qualified for the state meet in Anchorage last year in shot put and said she is looking forward to using what she learned this coming year.
Thirty-six athletes signed up for the team this year.
Freshman Anna Bell is giving the track team a go. She was all smiles on Monday as she said she liked it a lot. She has been running 200, 400, and 600 meters in practice and wants to run 800 meters in meets. She also dabbles in throwing the things that get thrown.
Neva Brownell, a junior, joined up this year for exercise. She has enjoyed building relationships with her teammates and coaches.
“I wanted to be more involved in my community, stay active, be healthy, and happy, not rot away on my phone,” Brownell said. “I’m not that into the competition part, it’s not my thing, but I like the – getting dirty.”
The team’s first meet is April 25-26 in Juneau.
When asked where 30 or so high school students stay when they go to Juneau, Haley said, “they camp in the high school with the other teams, girls upstairs and boys downstairs.”
There will be one meet in Haines on May 2-3. Juneau and Skagway will be sending teams