-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Girls Track and Field Returning Letterwinners are, left to right, Front Row: Olivia Daniel, Saiya Noborikawa, Aneliese Schuur, Ava Wessels, Hope Alstott Back Row: LJ Maehl, Calliegh Zimmermann, Maeleena Meyer, Ashlyn Wills, Teryn Rippentrap, Kenzie Holverson, Ky'Mariana Mosley

Todd Constable loves where the Fort Dodge girls track program is headed.

With 12 letterwinners returning the 19th year head coach has balance right now from sprints to distance.

“This is as balanced as we’ve been (sprints and distance),” Constable said. “I wouldn’t say that we are really deep anywhere, so we have to take care of ourselves in training so nobody gets hurt.”

With an early eye, Constable feels the Dodgers have a shuttle hurdle relay team that can be competitive on spring nights.

Returning letterwinners for the Dodgers are senior Ashlyn Wills. Juniors LJ Maehl, Maeleena Meyer, Aneliese Schuur, Ava Wessels and Teryn Rippentrop are also back.

Sophomore letterwinners returning are Olivia Daniel, Saiya Noborikawa, Hope Alstott, Calliegh Zimmermann, Kenzie Halverson, and Kymariana Mosley.

“We have great numbers this year,” Constable said. “We have close to 50 kids. We are awfully young, but I love that.”

The Dodgers will have inexperience with 22 newcomers and 37 total underclassmen.

Constable likes the Dodgers sprint capabilities with Wessels, Wills and Schurr.

Clearing the hurdles will be a strong suit for the Dodgers with Meyer, Maehl, freshmen Charlotte DeJong, Adyson Friesth and Sydney Carver.

“Our hurdle team is standing out right now,” Constable said. “We have Meyer and Maehl, along with DeJong, Friesth and Carver, who are all freshmen.

“They have been doing a great job.”

Maehl and Meyer will be key contributors for Fort Dodge.

“LJ is back and she is a versatile athlete,” Constable said. “She can do the high jump, sprints and 400 lows. Meyer is one of our fastest hurdlers and a consistent kid that works hard.”

Mosley is back throwing the shot put, a year after scoring points in the Dodger rotation.

Noborikawa is a distance runner that Constable sees competing in the 1,500 and 3,000 along with sophomore Madison Carmody.

Constable looks at Rippentrop as a strong 400 runner, in the open, 4×4, sprint and distance medleys.

DeJong, Friesth and classmate Emma Mathis are dealing with injuries, but look to fill in spots as well as freshman Brooklyn Nelson, will compete in the high jump and be a quarter-miler.

Freshman Linnie Pratt, who had a strong season for the Dodger cross country team, will be a distance runner.

“Linnie is versatile,” Constable said. “She can run the 3,000, 1,500 and the 800.”

Freshman Mariana Taute will help the Dodgers in the sprints as well as sophomore Calliegh Zimmermann.

Constable says that freshman Charlotte Breeser is a good runner and will compete in the high jump as well.

Freshman Aubrey Alstott will be a sprinter and sophomore Reina Lacina is a versatile runner that could run anywhere from a 400 to a 1,500.

Sophomore Kenzie Halverson will compete in the sprints as well.

Assisting Constable will be Scott Timmerman and Jon Koenig.

Timmerman will help with the mid-distance runners, long distance and high jump. Koenig is in charge of the throwers.

ROSTER

Seniors — Paige Lewis, Jade Peterson, Ashlyn Wills.

Juniors — Daisy Arellano, Laynee Davis, Emma Estlund, LJ Maehl, Maeleena Meyer, Teryn Rippentrop, Aneliese Schuur, Ava Wessels.

Sophomores — Hope Alstott, Grace Bohon, Madison Carmody, Olivia Daniel, Joely Gilbert, Gabriella Giron, Kenzie Halverson, Lily Kliegl, Reina Lacina, Izzy Lazarz, Kymariana Mosley, Saiya Noborikawa, Syndal Rogers, Claire Simpson, Calliegh Zimmermann.

Freshmen — Aubrey Alstott, Charlotte Breeser, Katherine Bristow, Sydney Carver, Charlotte DeJong, Macy Eckley, Ellie Estlund, Adyson Friesth, Aileah Geopfert, Lexie Grim, Malay Hollins, Junelis Leyva, Joey Luckenbill, Emma Mathis, Brooklyn Nelson, Bridget Olson, Linnie Pratt, Harper Sandhal, Kyrie Schwering, Adele Seltz, Mariana Taute, Gabrielle Wirtz.

SCHEDULE

March 27 — at Mason City (Iowa Alliance Indoor Meet).

April 3 — at Boone; 10 — at Eagle Grove; 12 — at Jim Duncan Invite (Drake Stadium); 15 — at Algona; 17 — at Waterloo; 21 — at Greene County; 24 — Dodger Relays; 25-26 — at Drake Relays; 29 — at ADM.

May 1 — at Mason City; 6 — IAC Conference Meet (at Dodger Stadium).