Can the talented Broncos find enough athletes to contribute throughout the lineup?
International Falls junior Jake Jensen, one of five captains on this year’s track and field squad, compared this year’s team to the movie “300.”
“Numbers don’t account for much,” he said, noting what this team lacks in big numbers makes up for in the final results.
The Little Amik No. 1 indoor meet at Bemidji State University was a perfect example.
The Broncos finished first, capturing 20 top 10 finishes, but the next 11 finishes ranged from 11th to 32nd place. This is a top-heavy team hoping for some underclassmen to contribute quickly.
“The guys we do have are great athletes,” Jensen said. “Everybody on the team can pull their weight.”
Jensen (pole vault) was joined by high-jumpers Shawn Filipiak and Timmy Myles at the state meet last season. Myles finished 11th, while Filipiak and Jensen both finished 15th.
All three have their sights set on returning, and Jensen thinks the number can grow if the 4x200-meter relay team can improves on its IRC championship and Brandon Richards can continue to improve in the shot put.
“If he works hard, he could go as a No. 2 seed,” Jensen said of Richards, noting the favorite in the event at sections is Eveleth-Gilbert senior Shawn Johnson, who won the Class A state championship in the discus and finished fourth in the shot put at state.
“Field events will be strong,” Broncos head coach Paul Hjelle said. “We have several sprinters who will be very competitive. We have some underclassmen who should help us, too.”
Leading the way for the underclassmen are freshman Marco Griffith in the 400, sophomore Ethan Johns as a thrower and sophomore Kyle Askey in the pole vault.
International Falls’ biggest losses were Thomas Briggs in the 400, Aaron Skoglund in the hurdles and Alex Marx, Anthony Youso and Zach Severson in the middle-distance and distance races.
The Broncos should have enough talent at the top, however, to stay competitive throughout the season.
“I think the team could probably place well in the True Team meet and I think we can take the subsection meet,” Jensen said. “And I think we can do well at the section meet.”
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
