The men’s and women’s track and field teams will be at nationals this Friday and Saturday in Grinnell, Iowa. A total of 13 athletes will be competing for the Warhawks.

Six of the 10 men competing this weekend will have already had experience in nationals. Junior Marcus Smith ran hurdles last year, and junior Dave Kuczynski competed in the 4×100-meter relay.
Senior Luke Buchholz has been an All-American in the high jump in the past and head coach Mike Johnson said he’s the veteran of this team.

Seniors Peter Schroeder and Time Prelletz were both on the 4×400-meter relay team two years ago adn were All-Americans from the outdoor season last year, Johnson said.
Schroeder and Prelletz will be competing in the 4×400-meter relay this weekend. Sophomore Nick Bee will be competing in the 60-meter dash, while freshman Mike Judd will compete in the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Cory Zaeske in the long jump, and freshmen Zak Fritz and Jared Denu in the 4×400-meter relay team.

“Going in, my expectations are to be an All-American again,” Bee said. “Last year’s nationals helped me out tremendously because I was nervous for last year’s conference [meet], but when it came to this year, there were no nerves at all. It helps a lot having that experience.”

Three women will be competing for the ’Hawks as well.

Junior Shelby Demos will be competing in the high jump after finishing second in the indoor meet and is coming in as the top regular season qualifier. Junior JoLyn Owen will be competing in the pentathlon.

Freshman Lexie Sondgeroth will be competing in her first nationals meet this year in the long jump.

After the team finished 24th in last year’s indoor championship, Johnson said he just wants the team to improve on its finish from last season.

On the men’s side, they ended up finishing 10th in last year’s indoor championship.

Johnson said the men’s goals are much like the women’s. He wants to see the men improve on its finish and to bring home some hardware.