PCM girls track team has record numbers, seeks big season

PCM’s girls’ track and field roster continues to grow in size under the direction of head coach Eric Karr.

One year after losing the entire 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mustangs will have 44 athletes spread out through the four classes.

The toughest part for Karr and assistant coaches Trey Thompson and Logan Bieghler will be to find the right spots for everyone when the outdoor season kicks off.

“The season is off to a great start,” Karr said. “As far as I can tell, the 44 athletes we have out is a program record. I obviously love having those numbers, but that also creates the problem of truly being able to coach each athlete.”

Senior Margo Chipps and juniors Chelsea Bird and Delaney Baird headline the list of returners back this season. All three Mustangs competed in the state track meet two years ago.

Chipps, a Northern Iowa recruit, brings with her an individual state medal and three medals from two different relay teams.

She was third in the 400-meter hurdles her freshman season, ran on a runner-up 4x200 relay team and also helped the Mustangs to second and fourth in the shuttle hurdle relay in 2018 and 2019.

Chipps has the top returning time in the 100 (13.79), 100 hurdles (16.14) and 400 hurdles (1:08.3). She also was part of the top returning shuttle hurdle, sprint medley, distance medley and 4x100 relay teams.

Bird was on the shuttle hurdle relay team which placed second at state in 2019. She has the top returning mark in the long jump at 15 feet, 1/2 inches, the second best returning time in the 100 (13.9) and the third best returning time in the 100 hurdles (18.12).

Baird brings back the top returning time in the 200 (29.86) and 400 (1:08.94) and was part of the 4x400 relay team in 2019 that finished 15th at state. She also competed on the best distance medley relay team.

“I work hard each year to get every athlete into a meet somewhere, but that could be a challenge this year with our participation numbers,” Karr said.

Hurdles have been go-to events in the past for PCM and Karr said that won’t change this spring. Chipps and Bird lead the way, but juniors Belle Hudnut and Kate McClellan also will contribute as will some newcomers.

Hudnut has the second best returning time in the 100 hurdles (18.07).

Karr said the distance crew is the deepest its been in recent years. That group includes sophomores Paige Steenhoek, Sophia Steenhoek and Riley DeVore and freshman Tiffani Koonce. Koonce and Paige Steenhoek were both cross country state qualifiers in the fall.

“I expect them to score a lot of points for us,” Karr said.

The sprinters are led by Baird, Chipps, Bird, Hudnut, McClellan, senior Lilli Baird and a bunch of newcomers.

“Right now, this is the biggest group, so I am still trying to figure a lot of things out,” Karr said.

Lilli Baird has the second best returning time in the 400 (1:11.51) and the top returning time in the 800 (2:49.06).

Karr anticipates his team scoring a lot of points in the field events. Bird leads the way in the long jump and senior Celeste Wagaman is the top returner in the high jump (4-11).

The throwers are a deep group that starts with junior Vi Humpal and also includes sophomores Cate Humpal, Rylee Gallaher and Jaden Fairbanks. Vi Humpal has the top returning throws in both the shot put and the discus.

Karr is unsure which freshmen newcomers will make immediate impacts and probably won’t know until they start competing in meets. He does know that Eliana Buswell and Avery Houser had success as middle school hurdlers, Lily Bowen and Olivia Kinnamon had middle school success in distance events and Ryan Bennett was successful in middle school sprinting events.

“I am positive there are numerous other athletes I am missing,” Karr said. “It’s just too difficult to say right now.”

PCM 2021

Varsity Girls Track Schedule

March 30 — Home Invitational, 4:30 p.m.

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

April 8 — EBF, 4:30 p.m.

April 13 — Pella Christian, 4:45 p.m.

April 15 — ACGC, 5 p.m.

April 19 — Gilbert, 4:30 p.m.

April 22 — Roland-Story, 4:30 p.m.

April 26 — Home Invitational, 4:30 p.m.

April 29 — Carlisle, 4:45 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