Coupeville senior Tiger Johnson puts in work during the first week of track practice. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Sean Toomey-Stout is ready to launch.
Now, it’s time for an encore.
Coming off a 5th place finish in the team standings at last year’s state championships, the Coupeville High School boys track and field squad is back for more.
But while last spring played out to perfection, as the Wolves also won league and district titles, the lineup will look a little different this time out.
The biggest loss is Jacob Smith, who became just the second athlete in school history to win four competitive medals at a single state meet.
His running mate, Danny Conlisk, is at the front of the pack when you look at returning runners.
He enters his senior track season having already claimed three state medals, including a 2nd place finish in the 400 last season.
Joining Conlisk are juniors Sean Toomey-Stout, who medaled in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays last season, and Jean Lund-Olsen, who medaled in the 4 x 100.
Senior throwers Ryan Labrador (shot put) and Chris Battaglia (discus) also competed at the state meet as juniors.
Other Wolves to keep an eye on include Keahi Sorrows, Kyle Burnett, Koa Davison, Jakobi Baumann, Thane Peterson, Chris Ruck, Jaschon Baumann, and Tiger Johnson.
Freshmen Brian Casey and Logan Martin could have an impact as well, with Martin already among the team leaders in the discus.
Coupeville coach Randy King, entering his 14th year with the track program, likes what he sees.
“This first week they have proven to be a fun group with good leadership and a great positive vibe,” he said.
Coupeville’s biggest strength could be its sprinters, led by Conlisk and Sean Toomey-Stout, with King hard at work trying to find the right mix with the relay teams after losing Smith and Cameron Toomey-Stout.
“Probably our most talented group is our sprint group,” King said. “It will be a challenge to find that fourth member for our relays, and we look forward to figuring out if we will have a team with a good chance of state-qualifying in the 4 x 1 or 4 x 4.”
Labrador leads the throwers, with Sorrows pushing him hard in the shot put, while Battaglia and Toomey-Stout both topped 130 feet in the javelin a season ago.
Battaglia, who went to state in the high jump as a freshman, leads a group trying to step up and replace two-time state meet participant Ariah Bepler in the event.
Logan Martin and Davison are both in the mix in the high jump, while Toomey-Stout and Lund-Olsen are at the forefront in the long jump and triple jump.
Jakobi Baumann, a sub-district champ in the 100 hurdles last season, will be clearing the obstacles again, with Peterson and Burnett sailing through the air in the pole vault.
Track opens its season Mar. 14 at the Oak Harbor Jamboree, and Coupeville hosts three meets this season, its most in years.
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