The Trojan boys’ track team finished second at Denison in their first outdoor meet of the season on Tuesday, March 26. Prior to this, they had two indoor meets at Northwest Missouri State and Iowa State.

Some highlights from the meet were Jalen Petersen winning the 3200m run, Craig Alan Becker winning the 1600m run, Chase Mullenix winning the open 800m run and the open 400m dash and Tyler Moen winning the 200m dash, making him ranked third in Class 3A.

The 4x400m relay consisting of Zade Niklasen, Joe Weaver, Moen and Mullenix took first with a time of 3:30. The 4x800m relay also won in a time of 8:52 and consisted of Bradley Dennis, Nathan Behrends, Ayden Brown and Becker.

According to Coach Mullins, the throwers have already exceeded his expectations for this season. Gunner Kirchhoff and Cale Roller have both already made new personal records in discus, with Kirchhoff throwing a 123 and Roller right behind with a 122-03. “That’s big for us because the last couple years we’ve struggled in the field,” Mullins said.

The distance “crew” is another improving section of the team. Freshman Zane Berg is having a “heck of a season,” competing in the 3200m run and the 1600m run, favoring the 3200m. He has already PR’d in the 3200m run and is continuing to drop time. Petersen is another key part of the distance crew, and Mullins said, “We’ve been training him pretty hard right now so he’s not fresh but when he gets fresh he’s going to go fast. We are preparing him for the latter half of the season.”

“Our mid-distance group, they kind of speak for themselves with Mullenix, Behrends and Becker,” Mullins said. He said that Niklasen is a “powerful runner” and good at 400s. Dennis, who was injured last season, is “coming along very well and is going to be a big piece of the 4×800.”

For the sprinting/hurdling crew, “Garrett Reynolds is starting to stick out this year. He is starting to hurdle for us in our shuttle hurdle team.” Sophomore Colin Mullenix made a huge PR in the 110m hurdles with a time of 16.46. In the 400m hurdles, Connor Pellett’s goal for the end of the season was to be at 61 seconds but he opened with a 62, making his new goal to be under a minute.