Northwest track and field picking up where it left off

By Randy Sachs

Special to the Times-Register

Northwest finished last season with a strong showing, and the youth of the team was a promising sign of what might come this season.

Thus far, the team is not disappointing anyone’s high expectations.

Head coach George Lutkenhaus said if the team could just come close to picking up where it left off last year, it would be a formidable contender later in the spring.

“Bar none, we’re better than last year,” Lutkenhaus said after seeing the squad pick up just a little behind where they left off last year.

Already, the Texans have posted top finishes in three meets, with the girls winning the Byron Nelson Relays and their own Texan Relays. They finished third at Newman Smith, just five points out of the top spot.

The boys team has also performed well, finishing second place as a team at the meet last Saturday at Northwest ISD Stadium.

“The kids are running well,” Lutkenhaus said. “We hit a lot of PRs (personal records) at Newman Smith. “If we stay healthy, we will continue to improve.”

Among those returning for the girls is 2012 state champion pole vaulter Desiree Freier and standouts Kiarra Simpson in the throwing events and distance runner Kellee McCann.

“I think we’re back on track,” said Simpson, a senior who made the regional meet last year in the discus. “I’ve thrown 139’ but my goal is 150’-160’,” Simpson said.

Simpson has won all three meets this year and is improving in the shot, as well.

McCann, a junior specializing in the mile and 2-mile events, also feels the Texans are picking up where they left off last season.

“I was just a little off my 2-mile PR in the first meet,” McCann said.

And she has something to work for this season, as McCann had to miss last season’s district meet due to illness.

“I’m really looking forward to moving on to regionals and state,” McCann said. “I’m definitely looking to make it to state with a new PR time.”

McCann has also won the 2-mile at Newman Smith, taking second in the mile and taking first at Byron Nelson in the 4x800-meter relay and the distance medley relay thus far in addition to placing first in the 1-mile and second with the 4x800 relay at the Texans’ own meet.

McCann and the rest of the Texans will be no strangers to top competition, as they qualified for the regional meet in the recent cross country season.

“Week to week,” said Lutkenhaus, “we’re running faster. I think we’re in good shape.”

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