Mount Si track has had its ups and downs over the years. Monumental moments like the girls winning the state championship in 1997 and second in 1998, or the lows of trying to post qualifying times on a cinder track.

But with those ups and downs comes new promise for both the boys’ and girls’ teams as they head into a new season ready to prove their talents.

The girls’ team had the largest turnout ever for a track team since Dave Clifford began coaching in 1974. Forty-two girls turned out, 16 of those freshman and 15 sophomores. Clifford, who took over the head coaching duties in 1984, is optimistic about doing better than their sixth-place league standing last year.

Leading the effort for the girls this year will be Tanya Smart and Ashley Van Oeveren. Smart took first in the district track meet last year throwing the discus 111 feet and 8 inches, 2 feet, 8 inches farther than her second-place opponent. She was third in KingCo with a throw of 109 feet, 11 inches. This led to her sixth-place finish at state with a throw of 116 feet, 5 inches. “I am hoping that nobody else good comes up but it will be a hard year because my ankles are bothering me,” said Smart, when asked about the season. “I am hoping to throw over 140 this year. My personal best overall was 118, but I went to Ironwood over the summer and marked 152 feet, 6 inches. So I am hoping to keep it up,” she added. “I want to take state this year with at least 150s or 160s,” said Smart.

Van Oeveren took third at KingCo with a toss of 104 feet, 1 inch, and placed twelfth in state last year in the discus. Being the girls’ team leader is a fun opportunity in her eyes. “It’s pretty fun, I get to be the stretching captain and everything. That is my perk,” she jokingly said. “My goal is to make it back to state, place better, get a medal this year, so place in the top six. I was close last year, but this year for sure,” she added. “Our throwers are going to be real strong,” said Clifford.

Back this year after a year in Germany is Carrie Frantz, who lettered as a sophomore in the pole vault. Other than Van Oeveren and Frantz, the only other seniors on the girls’ team are Lillian Lazenby and Sieber Aninja. New to the team this year is Piper Sherbon, a transfer from Tyee. Sherbon went to state last year as a freshman in the high jump and triple jump. “That is pretty impressive as a freshman,” added Clifford. “She is a tremendous athlete and will be doing different things for us. She has some leg problems that are leftover from soccer and gymnastics so we are going slow to figure out what she is going to do for us.” he added.

Kristen Berndt will add to the depth of the team this year, as well. She went to the district meet in both the 100 and 300 hurdles last year, and just missed going to state.

“We have some younger girls that help to put together a relay team, too,” said Clifford. “Kelly Fletcher, a sophomore, ran on the relay last year for us. She will also run the sprints,” added Clifford.

But the unknown is how the freshman and sophomores will add to the team. “There is some real natural ability there,” touted Clifford.

“Pretty impressive group, a hard-working group of kids. They do the workouts. Of course, we have our typical injury problems with this track, its like running on cement.” he added.

Bellevue, Skyline, Issaquah and Newport are expected to dominate KingCo this year. “Not only are they typically on top of KingCo, they are tops in the state,” said Clifford. One thing the hometown team will not enjoy is hometown meets. Mount Si track will not have any home meets this year. “Its not fair to the kids, trying to run times that will qualify you for the league meet. If you come out here and run on this stuff, you’re not going to run any time,” added Clifford, referring to the cinder track.

The boys’ team has seen consistent numbers of participants turn out over the last few years. This year 31 boys turned out, led by senior Nick Verbon. Verbon took third at the Sea-King district meet in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.61 seconds and fifth in the 300-meter high hurdles in 41 seconds. He took tenth in the 110 high hurdles with a time of 15.07. In addition to his sprinting and hurdling duties, Verbon could end up being the best shot at a district participant in the discus. “Nick has thrown for two years,” said throwing coach Chris Jackson. “He is strong, physically strong. He is going to be a decathlete in college if we can get him over the pole vault,” touted Jackson. “He is just concentrating on so many different things. He can probably throw the discus in the 130 range which will get him top 10 in the league,” Jackson added.

The idea of team leader is a role that Verbon feels comfortable with. “I don’t mind taking charge. I like to do it and I like to help out. Its kind of my time,” said Verbon. I’ve been here for a long time and feel I have something to add.

“I have to help out on hurdling a lot, we are kind of understaffed. I try to help out because I had outside help on hurdling, and I have helped coaches before,” he continued.

Other standouts are Josh Flores, a senior, in the javelin, Kai Miyamoto, a senior, in the 200- and 400-meter run, and Brian Lewis, a junior, in the high jump. In the pole vault, Jacob Limestall, a senior, is the best bet at placing this season.

Several new members of the team are also expected to contribute. Jarrod Wiegardt, a cross country standout, is out for the first time. “He has been one of our cross country runners and has done really well,” said head coach Kristine Kjenner. “For the distance events and jumps, Casey Hough looks pretty good in the high jump and triple jump. Brian McKinstry, Eric McCammon, Cory Anderson look good in the throws, shot, disc and javelin,” added Kjenner.

As for predictions, Kjenner is a little more guarded. “I see us being right in the middle. We were in the middle last year as well, about fifth place,” she added. Kjenner is in her 17th year of coaching and 10th as head coach. But the lack of home meets also concerns her. “We have such a beautiful setting here it is a shame we can’t bring other people here to enjoy it,” said Kjenner. “We do have a real hometown feel. We have grass, kids can throw, everybody can see everything that is going on, everything is in front of you. Everybody feels included when they are in a track meet here. For students to not be able to see that and the community not being able to see our kids participate, its really too bad,” she added.

“But to force kids to run on a cinder track that is more mud than cinder is a shame. They shouldn’t look like they just came out of a soccer match or football game,” added Kjenner.

“When you look at the kids that have come out of our little dinky high-school track program, its pretty impressive.” said Clifford. “Of course, Nick Rogers, who made the U.S. Olympic team and is a national cross country champion. You have Erik Lanigan, who is high jumping at the University of Washington. We have Jared Drake, who is pole vaulting at UCLA. We have Jordan McDaniels, who is a two time Pac10 participant in the discus and hammer throw. All these kids that have come out of our program and done really well.” he touted.

In addition to Kjenner, Clifford and Jackson, two volunteers are helping the team. Kelly Lake is back, helping the jumpers this year, Chris Jackson is the throwers’ coach, and Dave Ovall is working with the throwers again this year.