Mar. 31—Head coach: Eric Gahr. Assistants: James Robertson, Stacy Fox, Reid Pierzinski, Chris Whitfield, Lindsay Benson, Paul Callahan, Fred Farrand, Megan Girtman, Adam Girtman.
Last season: Three Century records were set one season ago, two by then-senior Shaun Wysocki. Wysocki got them in the long jump (23-feet-10) and the triple jump (46-10), finishing second at state in each. Joshua Kyei-baffour was fourth at state in the 110 hurdles in a school-record 14.13. The combination of Jake Wills, Wysocki, Wyatt Lundstrom and Gavin Vogel were fifth at state in the 4x400 relay (3:22.78) and the combination of Wills, Wysocki, Max Elliott and John Shannon were seventh in the 4x200 (1:28.0). Vogel was a Big Nine Conference champion in the 400 (49.92). Century finished eighth at state as a team and fourth in the Big Nine.
Top returners: Joshua Kyei-baffour, Sr. (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, jumps); Sam Razidlo, So. (shot put, discus); Max Elliott, So. (sprints, jumps); Owen Gerberg, Jr. (long jump); Sam Dirks, So. (jumps); Wyatt Lundstrom, Sr. (400, middle distance); Danny Pankratz, Jr. (400, 800); Luke Dirks, So. (distance).
Outlook: What Century accomplished last season, with three school records set and the team finishing eighth in the state meet, will be tough to beat. Still, the Panthers return a highly motivated group, according to second-year coach Eric Gahr. Hurdler and jumper Joshua Kyei-baffour figures to be one of the top performers in the state and will take his talents to Division I North Dakota State University next school year. But there is a pack of talented and hard-working Century athletes in addition to him. "This year we may only have a couple really big standout athletes but we have an extremely large and committed returning class of athletes who have put in a huge amount of off-season work," Gahr said. "I think we have enough depth to stay just as competitive this year and retain our fourth overall in conference position, hopefully better, though!"
Head coach: Michael Sonnabend. Assistants: Brandon Stanek, Luke Fisher, Jake Riggott, Kyle Riggott, Justin Rein, Hayden Ashworth, Dan Feda, Sam Sonnabend, Emily Ellson, Laramie Lindsey.
Last season: Then-freshman De'Marreus Wells placed sixth in the Section 1, Class 3A meet in the triple jump (41-feet-7) and then-freshman Donovan Reed was eighth in the discus (127-2), giving the Rockets two young, budding achievers. Manachanwa Ojulu was fourth in the triple jump (42-1 1/2) and Jaden Anderson was fifth in the 1,600 (4:41.20). Savy Vath was seventh in the 110 hurdles (16.09). JM, for the first time in years, didn't qualify anyone for state.
Top returners: Chris Garcia-Lara, Sr. (100, 200); Matthew Krowiorz, Jr. (200); Max Nguyen, Sr. (800); Jaden Anderson, Jr. (1,600); Savy Vath, Jr. (110 hurdles, long jump); Manachanwa Ojulu, Sr. (triple jump); De'Marreus Wells, So. (triple jump, long jump); Donovan Reed, So. (discus); Thorin Shelley, Sr. (discus).
Outlook: With strength in numbers, there is reason for optimism with the JM boys. The Rockets have a whopping 151 guys out for the team. It's led to a buzzing atmosphere at practices. JM should be excellent in the jumps with senior Manachanwa Ojulu and sophomore De'Marreus Wells. The Rockets have a star sprinter in senior Chris Garcia-Lara, who was not eligible to compete in the Big Nine or section meets last year due to transfer rules. He ran an 11.1 100 meters. Jaden Anderson and Aidan Feda are both coming off strong cross-country seasons in which they reached the state meet. Donovan Reed looks improved in the shot put and discus and could do damage. "As always, it will come down to performing when it counts," JM coach Michael Sonnabend said. "We will need kids to continue to progress in several areas to move up in the big ...