By Kayley Martens, Reporter

Coach Doug Ecker is hoping that this year’s track team will be a contender for a conference title. He’s pinning his hopes on several returning seniors, including senior Brooke Patterson, and the team having no injuries.

Patterson broke two school records last year, in the pole vault with 10’6″ and the triple jump with 35’10”.

“[To train] I’ve just been lifting with the girls that come every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” Patterson said.

Other returning athletes are senior Jessica Stouffer and sophomore Ashley Castellanos. With a new season, team and conference comes new competition.

“[The Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference] will be a good equitable conference to be in for track,” Ecker said.

Castellanos is looking forward to having a successful season.

“I think we’ll do well, we have a lot of depth in everything. It will be a good season.”

The team has been conditioning all winter in preparation for the season. Track conditioning is open to anyone, and the goal is to make kids stronger and to prevent injury.