Seniors set big goals for Mount Si track and field

After three seasons, senior Jesse Guyer knows how the athletes around her interact. “Every year, there are different groups of people, so you can expect different outcomes,” said the four-year Mount Si track athlete. Amid the big group taking the field in track, “you find your little group.”

March 24, 2014 12:51 pm

After three seasons, senior Jesse Guyer knows how the athletes around her interact.

“Every year, there are different groups of people, so you can expect different outcomes,” said the four-year Mount Si track athlete. Amid the big group taking the field in track, “you find your little group.”

She’s done that. As a runner, she will step up this year to lead the Mount Si girls relay squad. Priority one for senior year is to see her Mount Si 4×200 relay team go beyond their fifth place state finish last year and climb higher on the podium.

“We have a lot of potential for being at state,” Guyer said. “We know how to work together.”

She is among the Mount Si athletes that has been readying for their season with a regimen of Crossfit, running, and action. “I feel speedy,” Guyer says.

Junior Karlie Hurley is another Crossfitter with big expectations.

“Junior is a big year,” she said. “I hope I can improve my times.” She also wants to see her 4×400 relay team, which took fourth last year, make strides.

Among throwers, look for returners like Kristen Kasel, who took fourth at districts in discus, and Peter Link, who also qualified for state, to set the tone. Link threw 118 feet at state, good for 16th. But he knows that if he had thrown his best, 129.5, he would have landed in the top eight. He wants to go back, and has been pumping iron to make it happen.

“It’s different being the older one now,” the senior said. “I started because I thought it was fun. After I figured out I was decent, I liked to compete and beat people.” Link wants to break at least 145 feet.

“This will be the best girls team since I’ve lived here, easily,” said distance coach Sean Sundwall. “We have multiple distance girls this year who will likely rewrite school history.”

Look for seniors Bailey Scott and Madeleine Hutchison, freshman cross-country school record holder Hannah Waskom, and Lindsey Sydnor to cruise past the competition. On the boys side, Johnny Gendro and Grant Baker will lead the squad. On hurdles, look for Sydney Leonard, Mackenzie Hutchison, Jon Proctor and Andrew Harris to head up the pack.