Viking track teams get ready for the season

Viking Head Track and Field Coach April Wahlstrom welcomed 36 boys and girls to the 2021 Viking track teams.

Weather and COVID- 19 permitting, the Vikings are slated to compete in seven meets over the next month and a half.

Although the kids missed all of the last track season, Wahlstrom said she has several athletes who should be very competitive in track meets. The top returning girls include Malin Anderson and Molly LaVigne, and top boys are Kevin Viren and Brayden Schmidt. However, several younger athletes have the ability to surprise and be competitive at the varsity level.

Running the dashes and relays will be a mix of kids. Top sprinter for the girls is Molly LaVigne. Aanakwad Redix will lead the way for the boys in the dash events.

With no track to train on, it’s hard to practice for the long jump, triple jump, high jump, and hurdle events. But two years ago, then senior hurdler Jack Haussner took second place at state, proving it is possible to achieve great results even with a lack of facilities. The Vikings practice running events down at the Rec Park in Grand Marais, which affords them a place to run with little interference from vehicles.

Throwing the shot put and discus for the girls will be Hailey Smith and Calvin Battees. Arlo Christensen will compete in the weight events for the boys. The Vikings have no pole vault equipment, so no one competes in that event.

Running distance events (800 to 3,200 meters) for the girls are Malin Anderson, Olya Wright, and Anna Hay. With Kevin Viren, Brayden Schmidt, Jonah Schmidt, Keean Selin, and Kyler Hansen competing for the boys’ team.

Helping to assist Coach April Wahlstrom are Jeanne Anderson, Jenny Shueler, Emma Spoon, Jeanne Monson, Theresa Oberg, and Chad Benesh.

Overall, Coach Wahlstrom said, “We have many new kids out this year who are working hard and they are showing a lot of enthusiasm. Already we have seen a lot of improvement as the season has gone on. It will be fun to start competing to see what this team is capable of. We have some potential in the horizontal jumps as well which will be fun to sculpt.”