International Falls hasn’t had more than one athlete qualify for state since 2006. They want to change that in 2010.
For two straight seasons Alicia Hendrickson has been the lone state qualifier on the Broncos girls track and field team.
She wants some company this year.
“They are a dedicated group that have been working hard at practice,” Broncos head coach Jen Erickson said. “They have the potential to do very well this season and have shown the dedication and work ethic needed to succeed.”
The 2010 Broncos lost six seniors to graduation and will be counting on a large group of junior high athletes to rotate in on varsity.
“There is a lot of potential, not only in the returning athletes but also in the younger junior high girls,” Erickson said. “We have five seniors, five juniors and five sophomores with the rest of our team ninth-grade and younger. We have a large group of junior high athletes that will be stepping up to fill in some holes due to lack of depth on our varsity team.”
The junior high athletes will have plenty to look up to when they arrive.
Hendrickson and Steph Christianson earned all-conference honors for the second year in a row last season, while Britni Hendrickson returns as the top thrower and already posted a top finish in the Little Amik No. 1 indoor meet at Bemidji State University. Grace Thorstad will compete all over the place, Courtney Olson is the fastest returning Bronco and Rachel Foss and Amber Harms join Christianson as the top returning distance runners.
“Every senior we lost contributed a lot last year, so we’ll have to make up for it with the younger kids,” Thorstad said. “We have a lot of spirit.”
And they like surprising their coach.
“We just want to exceed our coaches expectations at every meet,” Thorstad said about the team’s goals. “It’s kind of fun to see her get shocked at how we do.”
One key underclassman Thorstad named besides Foss and Harms (both freshman) was seventh-grader Madison Filipiak.
“She’s going to be disgustingly good,” Thorstad said.
Sophomore Bailey Bernard qualified for the Section 7A meet in the 4x800-meter relay, eighth-grader Lexi Owen (300m) and sophomore Therese Youso (100) qualified for sections in the hurdles, Harms made sections in the 3,200 and eighth-grader Amy Auran advanced to sections in the pole vault.
“As long as we can send a good handful to sections, that would be good,” Thorstad said.
More participants at sections gives the Broncos more chances to qualify for state, which could help end a 3-year streak with only one athlete moving on to the season’s final meet. Krista Skoglund advanced to state in the high jump before Hendrickson qualified in the pole vault back-to-back seasons. The Broncos haven’t had multiple athletes at state since 2006.
“Girls are excited about their events and looking to improve from last year,” Erickson said.
2010 Bronco Track and Field Schedule
DATE EVENT TIME
April 8 at Deer River Relays 4 p.m.
April 15 BRONCO BOOSTER INVITATIONAL 4 p.m.
April 20 at Hibbing 4 p.m.
April 27 FALLS INVITATIONAL 4 p.m.
April 29 at Warroad K of C Invitational 4 p.m.
May 4 at Old River Meet (Grand Rapids - Boys only) 4 p.m.
May 6 at Deer River Northland Invitational 4 p.m.
May 8 at E.R. Mullins Invite (Grand Rapids - Girls only) 10 a.m.
May 11 at Section 7AA True Team TBA
May 13 at O.J. Belluzo Invite (Hibbing - Boys only) 4 p.m.
May 14 at Lynae Morrow Meet (Girls only) 4 p.m.
May 18 at IRC Meet (Grand Rapids) 2 p.m.
May 20 at Eagles Invitational (Warroad) 4 p.m.
May 26 at Subsection Meet 10 a.m.
June 4 Sections at UMD 10 a.m.
June 11-12 State at Hamline University TBA
