Liberty track and field coach Mike Smith is excited about the team’s talent this year, even if he’s not sure exactly how much of it he has yet.
With numbers over 100, Smith has spent much of the early season sorting through who is good at what.
“It’s just getting bigger and bigger,” Smith said. “It’s a little more challenging because you just can’t know everybody at first. … The sheer magnitude of trying to figure out what the best talent for an individual will be is tough.”
Smith said about a third of the team is new and contributes the large numbers partially to Liberty’s football success. The Patriots played in the 3A state title game last fall and Smith thinks that has people around the school excited to be a part of athletics.
“The kids who will go to state, they’re already doing what they should be doing,” he said. “Everybody else, it’s just find something you’ll have fun doing.”
Eric Bice will lead the team’s distance group. He ran the 1,600 at state in 2009, placing fifth in the finals. Bice won districts in the event.
Peter Stacy threw the discus and javelin at state. He placed in the top in both events at districts.
Josh Gordon competed in the high jump at state as a freshman last year.
Junior Chandler Jenkins, who competed in the long, high and triple jump at state last year, won’t compete in track this season. He is focusing on spring football.
Senior Troy Solly ran the 4X400 at state last year.
The Patriots’ girls team placed 11th at the state meet in 2009. Liberty’s biggest loss on the girls side is Kelsey Werre. Werre ran in the 100, 200, 4X200 relay and 4X400 relay at state last season. She finished fourth in the 200, led the Patriots to fourth in the 4X200, and led a second-place 4X400 team.
The Patriots do have quite a bit of returning talent. Madison Birdsall ran in the 400, 4X200 and 4X400 at state. Haile Erickson ran in the 4X200 and 4X400.
Emily Pestl-Dimmitt made districts in the 110-meter hurdles last year as a freshman. She finished second at the KingCo Championships in the event.
