Boys track has high hopes with high numbers

Roughly 80 total kids on roster for 2024 season

The Forest Lake boys track and field team will get to work this spring with aspirations of sending as many athletes as it can to the Class AAA state tournament – while also being prepared to compete when True Team rolls around in early May. Having lost a big chunk of roughly 20 senior runners last season, the Rangers have upward of 80 total kids on this spring’s roster – more than enough to make some noise in the ever-challenging Suburban East Conference.

Following a fourth-place finish in the SEC and a fifth-place team finish at the Section 7AAA championships in the year prior, multiple key returnees for Forest Lake will look to start off the 2024 campaign with a bang. Head coach of the Rangers program Andy Richardson is excited to see a handful of his impact players this season.

Seniors Sam Cordie and Grant Neururer, both short sprinters, as well as senior hurdler Reid Olson, will be key pieces toward the teams’ success, according to Richardson. Olson, who jumps in the 110 meter and 300 meter events, comes off a 2023 state appearance in those respective events – and has been a part of the state 4x4 relay teams since his freshman year. In addition to Olson’s bid, the Rangers also saw state berths in 2023 from its 4x4 and 4x2 relay units – a model of consistency shown in a program with lots of talent and strength in numbers.

“We also got Cam Mata who’s a senior,” Richardson said. “He was injured for pretty much all of last year, but the first meet we had, he’s already hit some pretty huge marks. He’s going to be an awesome one to have in the lineup.”

In distance, senior Logan Hays is another athlete that Richardson makes note of: “He’s going to be one we’re going to really have to count on this season.”

Richardson sees the potential in one of his youngest track stars, James McArdle.

“He just debuted in the 4.36 mile – he’s going to be a huge part of our distance crew, even with how young he is,” Richardson said.

“Obviously, you can’t forget about Howie Johnson. He throws, and had two go over 50 feet as a freshman, and has already had one go about 52 feet in the first outdoor meet this season. We’re looking for some pretty huge things from him,” Richardson said, regarding the sophomore.

With the Rangers possessing some high-level talent and having solid numbers this season, Richardson states how excited he is for this year, while throwing in some expectations.

“I’m really excited – we got some good numbers this year, we got a bunch of new guys out, which is great. Over the years, we’ve been really low on ninth-grade numbers. But this year, we have a lot, which is encouraging. We’re just going to have to figure out where to place them all and fill in those gaps that we have in different areas,” Richardson said.

“We always have talked about being ready to compete for when True Team rolls around. We kind of try to put in our best lineup together. So over the next month that’s something we will figure out if we have a shot at or not. But obviously, that’s our goal – as well as to place well in our conference, and once we get to sections we are going to try to punch as many state bids as we can.”