TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE SOUTH HAMILTON girls track team are, front row, (left to right), Katrinia Sailer, Isabel Swenson, Brooklyn Doolittle, Claire Hewitt, Olivia Beaune. Second row: Linnea Hednes, Abby Moline, Daytona Ferrie, Lillie Ammerman, Vivian Swenson, Bianca Seaton, Kayley Zanker, Michelle Fasching. Third row: Val Harlan, Tessa Skartvedt, Grace Wirth, Taryn Swanson, Riah Van De Pol, Cici Herrick, Rosemary Chamness, Jillian Hesse. Fourth row: Jillian Bentley, Hayley Gibson, Emma Ammerman, Stella Martensen, Payton Wright: Fifth row: Megan Moline, Cambrie Sloan, Sara Gibson, Bristol Ferrie, Winny Herrick, Ady Trask, Signe Swenson, Mckenzie Northrop; Back row: manager Effie Jonsgar, Mgr Brynn Ostrem, manager Addison Engelby. (DFJ Photo by Angela Hewitt)

The South Hamilton girls track and will rely on a handful of athletes that head coach Robyn Reisetter refers to as “natural leaders” to guide the team this spring.

Tessa Skartvedt, Brooklyn Doolittle, Riah Van De Pol, Isabel Swenson, Olivia Beaune and Cici Herrick are not only experienced in this sport, but have added varsity time throughout the year in cross country, volleyball and basketball.

“One other strength of ours this yeari s the collective desire to do well as a team,” Reisetter said. “We have really good numbers, and with that comes the opportunity to score in many events.

“Another strength is the leadership on the team. We have a large group of upperclassmen and veteran runners, so that experience and leadership will be a huge asset this season.”

An area the Hawks are looking to rack up points in will be during the sprint relays, as they qualified for state in both the 4×100 and 4×200 last spring. Doolittle and Van De Pol return from those relays, as the 4×200 was ninth overall.

Skartvedt, a junior, earned state bids in both the shot put and discus, placing 10th in the shot put with a throw of 35-2 in Des Moines from Drake Stadium.

Helping fill out remaining lineup spots will be the likes of Hailey Gibson and Adelyn Trask.

“They are both expected to be strong contributors in the sprints,” Reisetter said. “There is a lot of talent among the underclassmen. I look forward to seeing what this group can do.”

Reisetter got an early look at her team during indoor events, as South Hamilton opens the outdoor season in Ballard on April 2. They will host a coed invitational in Jewell on April 9, with the George Abell Hawkette Relays scheduled for April 28.

“It’s still early in the season, but as of now, I would like to see us continue to work toward some solid distance events,” Reisetter said. “Our main goal as a team is to qualify in multiple events. Aside from that, I would like to see that we are continuing to make growth and cut times as the season progresses.”