SNOQUALMIE – It’ll be two different approaches in searching for success when the Mount Si Wildcats’ track teams hit the ground running. The theme of the boys’ season will be youth, while the girls’ theme will be strength through veterans.

Christine Kjenner returns to coach her 19th season with the boys, and Dave Clifford is back coaching his 22nd season with the girls, his 30th overall.

Kjenner is excited about the youth on her team.

“It’s a real good turnout for the guys and with all the fresh faces … they’ve just got this fresh energy. People are excited about learning new events and competing,” said the veteran boys’ coach.

Kjenner has a goal in mind for her team this season.

“I’d like to see us land somebody in every event at league,” she said.

The top boys’ track teams are expected to be Bellevue, Issaquah, Skyline and Newport.

Among the top returning athletes are senior Michael Keller (throw events), senior Steven Johnson (vault events) and junior Adam Rothgeb (hurdles). Among the top freshmen newcomers is Michael Keller’s brother, Keith. Both Kellers are related to Curt Keller, who more than 10 years ago as a track athlete at Mount Si made a trip to state.

Other freshmen expected to make an impact on the boys’ team include Joe Taklo, Brandon Yakaboski and Daniel Floyd.

Keller looks at his leadership to be just as important as what he produces on the field.

“It’s very important to be a leader,” said the senior.

On the girls’ side, the core of talent is strong, with four returning state placers. Senior Kristin Berndt returns off a third place finish at state in the javelin and a fifth in the 100-meter hurdles; fellow senior Caitlin Braun returns looking to improve upon a ninth place state finish in discus; another fellow senior, Piper Sherbon, returns, looking for stronger results this season. She finished third at state in the shot put, and qualified but didn’t place at state in either the triple or long jump. Sophomore Krisi Lund and freshman Monica Nelson headline the newcomers on a small team this year with only 27 girls turning out.

Clifford expects a middle-of- the-pack finish in the league for his girls.

“We’ll end up in the middle four or five, we always end up in the middle. We just don’t have the depth that schools like Newport, Skyline and Bellevue have,” said Clifford.

Both Clifford and Kjenner have the same goal in mind for their kids: getting the best out of them.

“For the most part its all about the athlete, bringing out their best, training them so that they can have their best performance,” Kjenner said.

Clifford echoed that sentiment. “Our goal has always been the same my goal has always been the same and that is to get kids to maximize their ability,” said the girls’ coach.

Berndt has been a star in a number of sports over her four years at Mount Si, most notably in track and girls’ soccer. There are many moments that Berndt will remember.

“Last year’s track was pretty fun, it was a great time going over to Pasco, but I think all the people that I’ve just gotten to be such good friends with over the years and like played with pretty much since I was like five years old, it’s going to be some good memories,” Berndt said.

The future appears strong for both programs and the ability to host meets will be a huge part of that. Kjenner had this message for the community:

” [I] just would like to thank the public for supporting the bond issue to give us a new track and field so in the next couple of years we’ll be able to host our own meets again,” she said, adding that it will be “great to bring track back to Mount Si High School.”

The surface of the new track, according to Kjenner, will be all-weather.

Mount Si opens its season March 25 with a meet at Bellevue.