By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Considering what the Goessel High School track team is returning, the season should be another successful one for coach Curtis Guhr.

Beginning his 11th year at the Goessel helm, Guhr’s bringing back eight letter-winners on the girls’ team along with five for the boys.

Three of the girls also happened to qualify for state in 2017 on a team that finished runner-up in the Wheat State League.

Even better is that Guhr’s got a larger selection to chose from with Goessel’s numbers increasing this year, which should pay dividends for relays on both sides.

The girls’ trio of Brittney Hiebert, Stephany Meyer, and Julia Nightengale all qualified for state a year ago, giving Guhr a good base to build on.

Hiebert was sixth in the 800, and was half of the qualifying 4x400 relay team along with Meyer.

Hiebert and Nightengale were also half of the eighth-place 4x800 team with Nightengale also qualifying for the 3200-meter run.

Meyer was seventh in triple jump, also qualifying in the 200, and long jump.

Other returning letterwinners who should bolster the Bluebirds are Kara Burkholder, Edel Miller, Megan Guerrero, Porclein Unruh, and Elyse Boden.

Guhr also brings in several younger girls to help, too.

“Strengths for the girls will be the individual events,” Guhr said. “With bigger numbers this year, we will also be looking to put several relays together that should compete well.

“With three returning state qualifiers, several letter winners, and some new faces, we’re looking for the girls to have another good year.”

Guhr expects most of the success on the boys’ side coming from jumps and sprints, but possible opportunities in distance races and field events as well.

With Jordan Griffin, Zach Zogleman, Zackary Guerrero, Jerah Schmidt, and Jacob Hagewood back, Goessel has five returning lettermen to spearhead the boys.