It’s been a recurring them this year when it comes to looking ahead at area high school track and field teams: most, if not all, have strong groups coming back and some promising potential moving up in the form of underclassmen.

None may be more promising than the group of track and field hopefuls that have turned out in Plains this year.

The Horsemen and Trotters have a combined five athletes who competed in the 2022 state B-C championship back this year for another go-round.

Heading the list of state qualifiers from last year is sophomore Alexis Deming, who finished fourth in the state BC ranks for discus as a freshman. Deming was also in the upper echelon of women’s shot putters, qualifying for that event at the state meeting following an outstanding showing at the 2022 Divisional meet in Missoula.

She will be joined on the Trotters side of the Plains team equation by another Alexis, last name Helterline, who made it to state last year as a junior and competed in the 800 meters event.

Helterline also particpates in the 4X400 relay, the 400 meters run and the 200 meters sprint for the Trotters.

Also back for the Trotters is junior Peyton Wasson, who made it to state last season in the 800 meters and 1600 meters events. Wasson is also a member of the 4X400 relay team.

Coming back for the Horsemen are two state competitors from the 2022 campaign, including senior Mason Elliot and junior Joseph Martin. Elliot qualified for State in the 300 meters hurdles and also competes during the season in the 110 meters hurdles, the 400 meters run, the 200 meters sprint and the 4X400 meters relay event.

Martin made it the state meet in the triple jump last year. He also takes part in the long jump, 400 meters and 800 meters runs.

The returnees are back from a team that had no seniors last year, a subject that is music to the ears of head track coach Rachel Chenowith.

“We did not lose any seniors from last year,” she said. “We have several new athletes competing this year and are excited to watch their talent unfold”.

Chenowith said she is also looking forward to the experience and leadership five state qualifiers bring to the team this year.

“It is exciting to have all five of last year’s State competitors returning to the team this season with the motivation to work hard and build upon individual successes,” she said.

And that hard work attitude will be key to the success of this year’s group, she added.

“None of us are without the need for improvement, so my hope is that each individual will work with the determination to better his or her skills and walk off the track or field each day knowing they did their very best. As each athlete gives his/her best efforts, they help their teammates reach another level of competition”.

With that approach in mind, Chenowith said the team will also work to establish relay teams for both boys 4X100 and girls 4X400 events.

Plains was scheduled to appear in the Eureka Time Trials this past Saturday before the event was canceled due to weather concerns that caused several teams to withdraw from the competition. They will now hopefully see their first scheduled action this Saturday when they are scheduled to return to Eureka for the Eureka Invitational.