Bigger numbers, higher goals for East track & field

The Sun Prairie East track & field program is picking up steam. Last season was an obvious transition period for the Cardinals after the split of Sun Prairie High School. The program was shockingly light on seniors with only 11 boys and three girls. The total number has ballooned to 35 this season, 13 girls and 22 boys.

“We have a ton of seniors this spring,” Sun Prairie East head coach Doug Maughan said. “Last year, we only had a handful in a weird year following the split. We have more than doubled our senior class from last season. That’s a lot of veteran leadership. Seniors lead this program. They take charge, the juniors learn how for next season, and the freshmen and sophomores learn how to follow.”

Coach Maughan credits the team’s growth in numbers to their growth at athletes at Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) sectionals last spring. 24 total Sun Prairie East events participated, and something clicked. It became evident their potential rested in their hands. These inspired athletes went out and recruited new members.

Plenty of these newcomer track athletes hopped over to the program from other spring sports. Junior Cooper White was a baseball player. Senior Kaitlyn Nelson was on the girls lacrosse team. Senior Danica Walters played softball. Juniors Emlyn Knutson and Shaela Elert are focusing on track instead of splitting time with the girls soccer team.

“We’re a place for kids to land,” coach Maughan said. “If they’re competitive and athletic, this is the program for them. We want to build confidence, remain positive, and find a spot for everyone to contribute.”

This infusion of new talent will be added to a roster already chock-full of experience. Sun Prairie East sent 10 events to the WIAA state meet last season, of which myriad members return.

Senior Audrey Seefeld is an obvious leader of the pack. She qualified in a pair of state events, the pole vault and 100 meter hurdles. She tied for fifth in the pole vault and placed 18th in the hurdles. She’s joined in returning by East’s entire state-qualified 4x400 meter relay team. Sophomore Makayla O’Malley, junior Alexa Wornson, junior Shaela Elert, and senior Kaia Gassner placed 20th in the event. They’re also joined in returning by their two alternates, sophomore Kiera Place and senior Mia Marchese.

On the boys side, Sun Prairie East qualified for state in both the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Half of that starting lineup returns in seniors John McLean, a UW-Eau Claire track commit, and Connor Stauff. Fellow UW-Eau Claire commit Jace Stolte, junior Cooper White, and sophomore Brady Kaufman are potential fillers for the events. Kaufman served as a reserve last season.

The boys will also be in good hands in the field portion of the program. Senior Alton Williams placed 17th at state in the shot put last season. Junior Colton Scherer participated but did not place in the pole vault.

Plenty more East athletes participated at WIAA sectionals last season. The Cardinals have a large number of talented distance runners, including senior Jonah Marshall, junior Pat McRoberts on the boys side and juniors Brooke Marchewka and Shaela Elert for the girls.

With all of this talent on the roster, the Cardinals are hoping to take a step forward in 2024. While Sun Prairie East found good success in the WIAA state tournament, both the boys and girls finished in fourth place at the 2023 Big Eight conference meet. Coach Maughan knows this amalgamation of athletes is capable of more.

“We need to take a step forward,” Maughan said. “We’ve had some valuable additions to the program and have continued to develop the kids we had last season. We’d like to be in the top two and challenge for the conference title in both boys and girls. We’d like to establish ourselves as the top program in the conference.”

Sun Prairie East opted out of the traditional preseason indoor invitational portion of the spring. The Cardinals chose to focus on building in practice. The season kicks off for them on Friday, Apr. 12 with an invitational at McFarland High School.

Sun Prairie East’s sole home meet will be the eighth annual Paul Frank Invitational. The Cardinals will welcome in Milwaukee King, Edgewood, Jefferson, Lancaster, Madison East, Madison West, Middleton, Monona Grove, Monroe, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Sun Prairie West, Verona, and Waunakee on Friday, April 26.