Half of the 80 students on Kentlake’s track and field team are new to the team this year, but that’s not stopping the Falcons.

Led by top performing returners in the senior class, those new to the team are learning fast.

“It’s a little bit of a building year, this year,” said head coach Brian Wilson. “We’ve got some good returners, but we’ve also got some new kids who are good.”

Top returners for the Falcons include seniors Marisa Lytle, Tori Lanza, Terra McGinnis, Alex Martinez and Jake Bailey.

Wilson expects the seniors will be able to score lots of points for the team and expects the team will have several district and state qualifiers.

The girls team is solid but lacks depth, which could hurt the team if any of the top girls get hurt.

“Our girls team is one injury away,” Wilson said.

The boys throwing team, led by Bailey, is particularly strong according to Wilson.

Bailey, a senior and one of the team’s co-captains, started throwing shot put and discus in middle school when his mom got him involved with a club team.

“I just enjoy throwing heavy things far,” Bailey said.

Bailey competed at the district meet last year and has competed in the exhibition hammer throw event at state the last two years.

There are fewer throwers on the team this year, but that doesn’t worry Bailey.

“We have a good team this year, (we) should do well,” Bailey said. “We (the throwing team) don’t have the numbers but we make up for it.”

McGinnis and Martinez are both distance runners with their eyes on state as well as school and personal records. Martinez broke the school record for the 3,200 meters last year and this year he’s aiming for the 1,600 or 800 records.

Lanza, who competes in both of the hurdles events, also has her eyes on state.

“I started where I was last year, so that’s a good start,” Lanza said. “I want to keep improving, I’d like to make it to state and keep making personal records.”

Lanza started competing in track in middle school after a stint playing soccer.

“I’ve always done sports my whole life and I got started (doing track) in middle school and I loved it,” Lanza said. “It is both (a team and individual sport) and that’s what I love…it’s all you, that’s how you know if you’ve been working hard.”

This year Kentlake has a group throwing javelin for the first time.

This addition will be a big boost to the team which was essentially forfeiting the nine points that can be earned from the event and starting each meet with a 9 point deficit.

Wilson expects to see large gains this season, particularly in the sprint events that are key to winning meets.

“Meets are won and lost in the sprints because they’re so many events,” Wilson said.

Wilson said Kentlake’s runners have to bring their best to every meet.

“There is no easy week for us,” Wilson said.