Leland boys and girls track teams are sprinting into the 2024 season with high expectations.
The Comets start the season on Wednesday, April 17 at Glen Lake.
The Comets will have 17 runners for both boys and girls, which is the most they’ve had in program history.
“It’s great because there’s so many offerings here at Leland ... we’re just happy,” Leland coach Karen Kirt said. “We’re just working on our base and correct form and skills. Getting those hips loose. Sprinters are working on getting out of starting blocks, keeping their head down. Hurdlers are obviously working on their form ... distance is building their base.”
Roughly 50% of students at Leland do after school activities, according to Kirt.
The girls team will be led mainly by underclassmen with a heavy dose of freshmen.
Leland junior Ella Knudsen was last year’s Enterprise Track Dream Team MVP after she qualified for the state championships in four events.
Knudsen finished 24th in the mile and 13th in the 3200-meter run with times of 5:51 and 12:37. Knudsen led the state-qualifying 4x800-relay team as an anchor. She has led this relay team to states twice in her career and is looking for a third appearance. The Comets finished ninth overall in the 4x800relay after being ranked 16th going into the state championship meet.
“We are going to put our best out there every day and just kind of see where that takes us ... We are going to keep pushing and having fun,” Knudsen said.
The Comet girls will have to replace the leadership of Bridgette Duncan and Ariana Rodriquez after graduation.
Leland will have junior Elyse Atha, Alyssa Korson, and Abby Hicks join the squad.
Leland freshmen including Ellen Schwaiger, Natalie Burpee, and Hazel Danziger will have the chance to compete right away.
Burpee is excited to compete on the varsity track level for the first time.
“I’ve never run track before because it wasn’t offered as a sport at my middle school. I’m just here to try new things and see if I like it, and hopefully improve over the season once I do get some times,” she said.
For the boys team, the Comets will be led by seniors Agustin Creamer and Jimmy Alpi.
Creamer had a goal last season to make it to the state meet.
He accomplished that goal by finishing second at regionals with a personal record time of 10:43 in the two-mile.
Creamer then went on to finish 27th in a crowded two-mile race at the state championship with a time of 11:04. Creamer became the first Leland boy track runner to qualify for the state meet in any event in program history.
“It’s my last sports season I have. After this there’s nothing else to do at least in the high school sports aspect,” Creamer said.
Alpi raced with the best in northern Michigan in the 300meter hurdles. He finished first at a conference meet last season and will be looking to improve in 2024. Alpi finished fifth in the region in 2023 with a personal best time of 45.57 at regionals and sixth at the conference championships.
Leland senior Logan DeFour is stepping onto the track for the second time during his career.
“Last year was a lot of time to begin and learn ... this year’s I’m focused on improving and I to end off on a high note,” Logan DeFour said.
Other runners for Leland include junior Brady Keen, JC Oosse, Ignacio Creamer, Evan Keen, Jose Roman, and Cody Tietje.
