PCM boys track team starts with deep roster, lots of unknowns

PCM’s boys’ track and field team is deep and full of speed. That’s what head coach Collin Harrison knows.

But after not having a season last year, like everyone else in the state, his Mustang squad is full of unknowns.

“It’s just so hard because I haven’t seen them run in two years,” said Harrison, who begins his seventh season as head coach.

There are 42 athletes on the track team this season. That includes 13 seniors, eight juniors, 10 sophomores and 11 freshmen.

Seniors Jacob Van Winkle and Beau Webb are the most experienced returners for PCM.

Van Winkle will be one of the fastest Mustangs, while Webb returns as the team’s best distance runner.

Van Winkle posted some of the team’s best times in 2019 in the 100-meter dash (11.95 seconds), 200 (23.59) and 400 (54.56) and also ran on the Mustangs’ fastest 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams.

He’s the lone runner back from the 4x200 relay team which placed 15th at the state meet in 2019.

Webb ran the fastest times in the 800 (2:12.16), 1,600 (4:53.21) and 3,200 (11:22.61). He also was on the fastest 4x400 and distance medley relays.

Webb was 20th in the state meet in the 1,600 in 2019.

The other key returner is junior Aidan Anderson, who may not be full go until mid April after suffering a leg injury during football season.

Anderson ran a 53.86 in the 400 as a freshman and also was on the team’s fastest 4x400 and distance medley relay teams.

Senior Carson Duinink ran a 2:25.72 in the 800 and was on the top 4x800 relay team along with senior Landon Fenton, who also ran a 1:07.17 in the 400 hurdles.

Justin Maggard has the top returning 400 hurdle time as he posted a 1:05.71. His best leap in the long jump covered 18 feet. Maggard also will compete in 100s and 200s.

Junior Will Oelmann is the top returning long jumper as he leaped 18-8 as a freshman.

There will be several newcomers who will make an impact this season.

Seniors Andrew Mitchell and Gatlin Boell are both out for the first time as they will dual sport with golf this spring. Harrison said Boell will do hurdles, sprints and compete in the high jump and Mitchell will run anything from a 100 to a 400.

Duinink will compete in 800s and the 1,600, Fenton will mostly run 400s and 800s and Oelmann will be a sprinter outside of competing in the long jump.

Junior Kaden Hale and sophomore August Stock also will be sprinters. Stock will compete in hurdles, too.

Another Mustang out for the first time is junior Durant Van Dyke, who will run 400s and compete in the shot put and discus.

The other throwers are sophomore Gavin Van Baale and junior Ben Buys.

“We have so many unknowns, but we want to be competitive in most meets and finish in the top two or three at the (Heart of Iowa) conference meet,” Harrison said. “We have lots of speed, but we have basically all new throwers and jumpers.”

PCM 2021

Varsity Boys Track Schedule

March 30 — East Marshall, 4:15 p.m.

April 1 — Roland-Story, 4:30 p.m.

April 6 — PCM Coed Invitational 4:30 p.m.

April 9 — Baxter, 4:30 p.m.

April 13 — Pella Christian, 4:45 p.m.

April 16 — ADM, 4:30 p.m.

April 20 — BGM, 4:30 p.m.

April 27 — EBF, 4:30 p.m.

April 29 — Home Invitational, 4:30 p.m.

May 6 — HOIC Invitational, 4 p.m.

May 10 — Pella, 4:45 p.m.

May 13 — State Qualifying meet, 4 p.m., TBA

Home matches in bold