-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Boys Track and Field returning letterwinners are, left to right, Front Row: Mason Bolton, Kyree Rochon, Jayce Point, Joe Constable Back Row: Tytrel Mosley, Taevon Felley, Cale Hansen, Sam Moser, Zach Jorgensen

Nik Moser is a track guy.

Moser, Fort Dodge’s football coach, and former Iowa State defensive back, knows all about track.

In high school Moser was a four-time state champion. He won the 200-meter dash twice and 400-meter low hurdles twice.

Now Moser will head back to his roots on the track as Fort Dodge’s boys coach.

There’s not a lot of restructuring or teaching fundamentals in track.

So for Moser, it’s simple — having guys that want to compete.

“The biggest thing is competing,” Moser said. “It’s about running to beat your previous best time.

“The goal is to be running your best at the end of the season and competing against yourself to get better.”

Moser takes over for Kevin Astor, after being an assistant for two seasons.

“The thing about track is every sport a kid competes in, they run,” Moser said. “We have a lot of baseball, football and basketball players out.

“They see the benefits of running and competing.”

Moser, whos dad Sam, was Fort Dodge’s track coach for 20-plus years.

“The biggest thing is, I want multiple sports kids,” Moser said. “We have football, baseball, wrestling and basketball players out competing and getting better.”

Moser returns two state qualifiers in juniors Noah Daniel and Dalton Eckley.

Daniel competed in both the 100 and 200 meter dash, while Eckley was a state qualifier in the high jump.

“Both Noah and Dalton earned some state experience,” Moser said. “We have guys coming back that compete and that we will rely on heavily.”

Returning letterwinners for the Dodgers are Mason Bolton, Kyree Rochon, Jayce Point, Joe Constable, Tytrel Mosley, Taevon Feeley, Cael Hansen, Sam Moser and Zak Jorgensen.

According to Moser, senior Hunter Richardson can run anything from 200s to 800s and hurdles. Senior Rylan Kingrey will be part of sprints, relays and the long jump.

Also in the junior class is Mosley, along with a sophomore group of football kids. Sophomores Rochon, Tru McBride, Constable and Moser will also be key contributors.

“We have a good group of distance kids,” Moser said. “Hansen (sophomore) can run anything from a 400 to two miles and is solid at the 800.

“Point (sophomore) can run in the 400, 800 and 1600.”

The Dodgers will field a solid group of throwers as well, led by Constable and junior Luke Fierke.

Sophomore Kellin Crouse, along with freshmen Brody Maehl, Nolan Arends and Memphis Donahe will also be in the pits.

“We have about eight or nine throwers competing,” Moser said. “Joe and Luke have the most experience.”

Freshmen Luke Beckley, Avery Bryne, Myles Summers, and Joseph Petersen will be key newcomers.

“I think we will have some good sprints, 4×800 and distance medley,” Moser said. “We have two sophomores in the 800 that can go two-flat.

“I think we have a good balance of sprinters and distance guys.”

With Eckley in the high jump, also competing will be Bolton (sophomore) and freshman Amari McCaleb.

Kingrey, junior Zain Rowe and Moser will take part in the long jump.

“I feel like we have a good balance where we can move things around,” Moser said. “Guys like Noah, we can put in the 200, 4×1 or 4×2, sprint medley or the 4×4.

“We want to work on things for Drake and want the kids to be successful.”

Moser will be assisted by John McBride and Kyron Wilson. McBride was the boys track coach for 15 years before Astor.

Roster

Seniors — Angel Gervacio, Rylan Kingrey, Hunter Richardson, Shawn Roberts II.

Juniors — Noah Daniel, Dalton Eckley, Taevon Feeley, Luke Fierke, Jaxson Lowrey-Jones, Tytrell Mosley, Zain Rowe, Carter Short, Brennen Stickrod.

Sophomores — Colin Appler, Ezrah Barkhaus, Mason Bolton, Jarrod Chada, Joe Constable, Kellin Crouse, Korben Davis, Charles Evans, Cael Hansen, Zak Jorgensen, Brandt Lawler, Tru McBride, Will McElroy, Sam Moser, Amarie Pettigrew, Jayce Point, Kyree Rochon.

Freshmen — Nolan Arends, Cael Adams, Luke Beckley, Avery Bryhne, Memphis Donahe, Brody Maehl, Amari McCaleb, Brock Nelson, Fernando Ortega, Joseph Petersen, Myles Summers, Jasper Williams, Gage Williams.

Schedule

March 27 — at Mason City (Iowa Alliance Indoor Meet); 29 — at Des Moines East.

April 1 — at Nevada; 7 — at Boone; 10 — at Marshalltown; 12 — at Jim Duncan Invitational (Drake); 14 — Dodger Relays; 17 — at Cedar Falls; 24-26 — Drake Relays; 28 — at Mason City.

May 6 — at Ottumwa (IAC Conference Meet).