ELSBERRY – Elsberry’s track and field squad has been a quality unit that has sent athletes to Class 3 state tournaments for several years.
The 2023 version has the same aspirations. However, new leadership is at the helm, with Jenny-Lynn Heras and Mandy Hartley coming over from the cross-country squad to coach the girls and boys teams.
Hartley said, though the distance-running events are similar, obvious differences with the addition of other events come into play when coaching track and field.
“You have a lot more events,” she said. “You don’t just have long-distance runners. You have way more components.”
With 25 students on the team, the Indians feel as if they are able to compete in all events in Class 3.
“It’s an increase from last year, but we have a lot of kids coming up from eighth grade, which helped out our numbers,” Hartley said.Â
Dashaun Dotson is a returning state qualifier for Elsberry on the boys side, but the team feels it has several other team members who have a chance to qualify for state competition as well.
“Audrey Irving was a sectional qualifier last year, and I hope she completes the push,” Hartley said. “We also have freshmen from cross-country who were state qualifiers – and that’s a good start.”
