2025 Rochester girls track and field teams at a glance (2025)

Head coach: Kris Allen. Assistants: Shai Nichols, Brent McGrew, Emma Andreson, Chris Whitfield, Reid Pierzinski, Megan Girtman, James Robertson, Melissa Coleman. Volunteers: Kassi Brown, Ashley King, Makenna Kraz, Linsday Benson, Stacy Fox.

Last season: Century set four school records, in the 4x400 relay (Kaia Berry, Emma Anderson, Emily Bunce, Sophia Comfere, 3:56.24), the 4x200 relay (Megan Lund, Kaia Berry, Clara Gerhard, Comfere, 1:42.23), the triple jump (Nell Ferguson, 37-feet-4 1/2) and the 400 meters (Comfere, 55.90).

Top returners: Sophia Comfere, Sr., (200-800); Mary Amusan, So. (throws); Clara Gerhard, So. (sprints); Kaia Berry, Jr., (sprints); Nell Ferguson, So. (jumps); Jazzlyn Hanenberger, Sr. (distance); Sophia Trabuco, Sr. (distance); Madeliene Schmidt, Sr. (pole vault).

Season outlook: Century has excellent participation numbers and combined with a strong core of returning athletes, has the potential for a big season. Sophia Comfere gives the Panthers one of the top track athletes in the state. She landed fifth at state in a stacked 400 field last year with a fantastic 55.90 time. She might also do the 200 and the 800. Clara Gerhard gives Century one of the top sprinters around, Mary Amusan is an excellent thrower and Nell Ferguson is a Century record holder in the triple jump. “The challenge is always to find the right events for each athlete,” Century coach Kris Allen said. “Mankato East will be tough to beat at conference but we aim to be in contention.”

Alex VandenHouten / Post Bulletin file photo

Head coach: Brandon Stanek. Assistants: Luke Fisher, Justin Rein, Dakota Hiller, Kyle Riggott, Jake Riggott, Laramie Lindsey, Emily Ellson, Sam Sonnabend, Hayden Ashworth.

Last season: JM finished eighth in the Big Nine and eighth in the Section 1, Class 3A meets. Abi Tri won the 3,200 in the Big Nine and Section 3A meets and was eighth at state. She also won the 1,600 at the Big Nine meet. Maysen Pettengill was fourth in the 200 at sections and seventh in the 100. Purity Ongeri was seventh at sections in the triple jump.

Top returners: Abi Tri, So. (1,600, 3,200); Maysen Pettengill, Jr. (sprints, jumps); Nina Ta, Sr. (sprints); Purity Ongeri, So. (jumps, pole vault).

Season outlook: JM has a new head coach, Brandon Stanek. Stanek was previously an assistant coach and he takes the place of Dakota Hiller. His specialty is sprints. Stanek is pleased with the number of new athletes that the JM girls have out for the track and field team. He’s got at least one star on his team, sophomore distance runner Abi Tri. She placed eighth last year at state in the 3,200 and is also a top 1,600 runner. “We’re very encouraged by the hard work and growth our athletes have shown during the off-season, and we’re eager to see that progress translate to the track this spring,” Stanek said. “Additionally, we’ve welcomed several new athletes and coaches to our program, bringing fresh energy and excitement to the team.”

Head coach: Jered Smiley. Assistants: Matthew Olson, Helnsarah Penda, Jeffrey Schlichter, Jeffrey Ubinger, Chris Jones, Jasmine Graham, Kevin Kirkeby, Kaeden Fellingham, Anh McGeeney, Braeden Mengis, Shawn Yocum, Scott Klote.

Last season: Mayo advanced three athletes to the state meet, Julia LaBrash (high jump), Taylor Kurtz (200) and Jadyn Lester (high jump). Kurtz finished fifth (25.16), Lester was 10th (5-feet-2) and LaBrash 20th (4-10).

Top returners: Taylor Kurtz, So. (sprints); Lyric Urban, Fr. (sprints); Emma Clarey, fr. (sprints); Jersey Urban, Fr. (sprints); Maggie Dyer, Fr. (hurdles, high jump); Nyamouch Lul, Fr. (hurdles); Siri Kirkeby, So. (hurdles, triple jump); Kaia Kirkeby, Sr. (200, 400); Geneva Cheney, Sr. (distance); Kendra Horsman, Jr. (200, 400, long jump); Autumn Derby, Sr. (sprints, hurdles, triple jump); Drew Clausen, Jr. (800).

Season outlook: The Spartans have some excellent young talent led by sophomore sprinter Taylor Kurtz. Kurtz, who transferred a year ago from Dover-Eyota, proved herself as one of the top sprinters in the state a year ago when she finished fifth in the 200 with a glowing time of 25.16. There are a pack of freshmen at Mayo who are also showing great potential, including Maggie Dyer in the hurdles and high jump. Also look out for sophomore Siri Kirkeby in the hurdles and triple jump and Kaia Kirkeby in the 400. “The Spartans are excited to be back on the track,” Mayo coach Jered Smiley said. “We are looking forward to the continuing growth of our young track stars and making this season one to remember for our seniors. We have so many talented athletes in all different areas in our program, we should see a well-rounded Spartans team supporting one another. I love seeing our athletes pushing one another and putting smiles on each other's faces at these early season practices.”

Jason Feldman / Post Bulletin file photo

Head coach: Pete Gilman. Assistants: Demonte Nelson, Joe Lonzo.

Last season: The Lourdes 4x800 relay team (Mariah Brooks, Abby Oxentenko, Anna Peikert, Olivia Timbers) was third at state. That group won the section title in a season-best 9:38.

Top returners: Ella Shedivy, Sr. (sprints, relays); Anna Shedivy, Sr. (sprints, relays); Arianna Holycross, Jr. (sprints, relays); Kaitlyn Nestler, So. (sprints, relays); Anna Peikert, Sr. (middle distance, 4x800); Olivia Timbers, So. (middle distance, long distance, 4x800).

Outlook: Lourdes will once again be excellent in the sprint relays and middle-distance events. Anna Peikert and Olivia Timbers return from a 4x800 relay team that finished third at state last year. Peikert will be fighting for a spot to go to state in the open 800 and Timbers is an up-and-coming middle and long-distance runner. Lourdes is riding some solid depth this season, particularly in sprints, though it currently has a handful of athletes out with injuries. The Eagles are hoping to finish in the top half of the Hiawatha Valley League. Staving off injuries will be a key for this crew.

Post Bulletin file photo

Head coach: Lindsay Collins. Assistants: Joey First, Christina Block.

Last season: Schaeffer Academy hasn’t had a track-and-field team since 2019. Just two of the athletes from then are still on the team, Megan Maggie and Gabriella Buehler.

Top athletes: Gabriella Buehler, Sr. (sprints); Megan Maggie, Sr. (distance).

Season outlook: This is Schaeffer Academy’s first time offering track and field since 2019. Coach Lindsay Collins likes the athletes who have come out for the team. “We have a great group of student athletes that I am excited to get to know. Most of our team has never done track before so this is a year of discovery and growth. I am excited for athletes to try new things and discover talents they had that they might not have known that they had. I look forward to challenging them in ways to help them grow — whether that means trying a new event, or pushing them harder in practice. Because I haven't seen what most of these athletes can do, I am waiting with anticipation alongside them for the first meet of the seasons. We have a lot of younger runners, so there is lots of hope for the future of our track team.”