The numbers are looking good for the Yuma High School track and field teams.
Head coach Lucas Lubbers reported earlier this week that about 50 boys and girls are out for the sport this spring season, but will have a better grip on the numbers after spring break this week.
“It’s a pretty decent number compared from the years before,” he said.
Yuma boys are coming off back-to-back 2A state championships. Several key performers are gone from those squads, but several also return. The girls also have several key athletes returning from last season.
Lubbers said several upperclassmen who have not been involved in high school track and field before are out for the teams this season. There also is a strong younger group to help bolster the depth.
“I’m pretty excited,” Lubbers said.
The weather has not cooperated much in the preseason, but the track and field athletes have been outside as much as possible, such as when the temperature is around 45 degrees and there is not much wind.
“We try to take advantage of it as much as we can,” Lubbers said, “because it’s really hard to practice in the hallway at the school.”
Yuma opens the season March 25 by hosting the Yuma Early Qualifier. The extended weather forecast calls for cold conditions for the most part between now and then, but the meet should be able to go off as scheduled — particularly after a tough spring season in 2022
“We were fighting the wind all last year,” Lubbers noted.
Look for more on the YHS track and field teams in next week’s edition.
