Track and field: A look at the Hazen team

By Adam McFadden • April 13, 2009 1:13 pm
Hazen's Michael McGillivray runs around the track at practice.
Hazen's Michael McGillivray runs around the track at practice.

With some talented runners and a shot putter who’s the favorite to win state, the Hazen track team looks toward to capturing a Seamount title — and more — this season.

“We’d like to win league because of the prestige,” said Hazen assistant coach James Holland. “This is a school where kids like to see success… and it kind of feeds. Then we start to get more kids coming out.”

The Highlander boys team has a solid sprinting group with Duncan Mackay and Michael McGillivrary. Mackay, a junior, took third in the 100 and second in the 200 at the Arnie Young Invitational April 4. He ran both events at districts last season.

McGillivrary placed fifth at the Seamount League meet in the 400 last season.

The Highlanders also have a pair of strong hurdlers in junior James Holland and senior Adriel Johnson. Holland ran the 110 hurdles at the state meet last year. Johnson ran both hurdles events at districts.

Hazen’s best bets in the distance events will be Clay Strom, Peter VanNuland and Kyle Gibbs.

“We have a good core group of kids and a very young team,” Holland said. “We think we can be pretty good this year.”

Holland estimated that 8 to 10 freshman will regularly score points for the Highlanders at meets this season.

Anchoring the field events is thrower Andrey Levkiv. Levkiv finished second at state in the shot put last season. He also threw discus at state.

He has already thrown a distance of 60 feet, 6.5 inches this season. That would have won state last year by nearly two feet.

For the girls team, sprinters Starr Williams and Airashay Rogers will be keys. Sophomore Erin Anderson ran the 400 at state last season.

Michelle Wnek will lead the distance group. The sophomore placed seventh at the Seamount League meet in the 1600 and ran at districts in the 3200 last year. She ran at the cross country state meet the past two seasons.

Robin Lee will be important on the hurdles and field events. Seniors Brittany Phillio and Kaysie Rozsonits will lead the team’s jumps. Both traveled to state last season.

One thing is for sure with the 2009 Highlanders team: They’re not setting their sights low.

“Getting kids to state is really important for us,” Holland said. “We’ll be disappointed if we don’t get at least 20 to 25 kids to state.”