The track teams are ready to see what they have got as they head to Lake Orion on Wednesday.
‘I think it is going to be a really close meet,? said Girls Track Coach John Yorke. ‘Lake Orion has a couple of good standouts. Our depth is going to help us.?
Yorke expects the team to do well in the distance events this year with his key returners Becca Culver, Natalie Smith, Caitlyn Post, and Danielle Blythe.
Smith will compete in the mile, Post in 400 meter and 800 meter run and Blythe in 400 meter run.
Yorke has a young team this year – mostly freshman and sophomore improving their skills and building onto experience to help Clarkston score points.
‘We will do pretty good,? Yorke said about the season. ‘I do think we will improve as the year goes on. It’s a young team and I am looking for someone to step up this year and see what our younger kids can do.?
Boys Track Coach John Bennink is also ready to see what Lake Orion has and which boys in his team will stand out.
‘I expect Lake Orion to be good like they always are,? he said.
But the team is looking at the big picture and continuing to improve from where they were at last year.
They have a lot of returners – but the team is still young with a bulk of juniors and sophomores.
‘We are looking for some of our younger guys to step into different roles and start scoring points for us,? said Bennink.
Standouts for this year are Chris Canada, 400 meter, Rawley Hallman, 400 meter, Brian Benway, long jump, and Jordon Garrison, high jump.
‘I look for Benway to be real solid this year,? said Bennink. ‘Garrison will do a decent job in the high jump.?
Christian Bonzheim, a strong runner, continues to look good in his distance events.
‘Our scorers for us last year should do a little bit better,? Bennink noted. ‘We still have a long ways to go. I think next year will be our year when we will start seeing big changes in our program.?
Especially when the team gets back a few guys they lost this year because of injuries they sustained playing other sports.
‘CJ Gozdor we expected big things out of him as a sophomore. He won county last year,? said Bennink.
His competitors in the high jump events will have a challenge waiting for them next year. As well as Nick Pike’s opponents in the hurdles when both come back healed.
‘We are all excited about the season,? said Bennink. ‘We like all the kids. They work hard and we will see a lot of good strides from the boys.?
The goals for the season is continue to improve and get better every day to make next year’s program a force to be reckoned with and win a league meet.
Bennink won’t know anything until after Wednesday’s meet.
‘I am looking for our guys to compete and if there is something out there to grab hold of it and chase people down and win some races,? he said.
Both teams compete at Lake Orion High School, beginning at 4:30 p.m.