UPDATE: For a complete list of Law track athletes who have qualified for states, follow head coach Mr. Beler on Twitter (@JLHSTrack)!

By Amelia Trapp – Staff Reporter

With the start of a new winter season comes the start of a new indoor track season.

Track season officially started in early December, but many athletes started off-season training much beforehand.

Head coach Mr. Beler is looking forward to another great indoor track season. Both Beler and the team have big plans for this year.

This year, Law’s indoor track team has 110 students participating. Beler said he hopes for at least 30 of those athletes to make states.

Some of his other goals include getting more All-State banners hung in the gym, making New Englands, and making Nationals.

Among the 110 athletes, two are returning All-Staters: Kiki Smith and Olivia Steiner.

Smith, a senior, has done track all four years of high school and plans to go to college and run on a Division I track team.

Smith runs the 55 meter dash, long jump, and is part of the 4×200 team. This year her goals include making it to Nationals in New York City with her 4×200 team and for the 55m dash.

“The most difficult thing about track are handoffs,” Smith said. “It makes a huge difference with time, and if a handoff is bad it adds on to our time.”

Over her high school track career, Smith has gone All-State three times in the 55 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and as a member of the 4×200 team.

She was awarded MVP last year and she qualified and competed at Nationals with her relay team.

Along with these accomplishments, she holds the school records for the 55 meter dash, and the 100 meter dash.

On the boys side, Jordan Beck, Charlie Fonck, and Alex Pratcher will be some of standout competitors. All three compete in sprints and Beck competes in the long jump. Ryan Wasserman will also be a runner to watch in the mid-distance and relay events.

Assistant coach Mr. Rhode has some of his own goals for the team which include getting as many athletes to states as possible. He has a plan to make this happen.

“(We will be) training like we want to accomplish these goals,” Rhode said.

Rhode has enjoyed his time as a member of the coaching staff.

“It has been one of the most satisfying and unique experiences as a coach,” Rhode said.

One of the captains this year, senior Maddie Murphy, has done track all four years of high school.

“It’s like being apart of a family and I love being apart of that,” Murphy said. “I will miss indoor track, and all the great friendships I have made when the season is over.”

Law’s indoor track coaches and athletes have big aspirations for this season and plan to do whatever it takes to make them happen.