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Boys track: Experience, talent, lot of youth
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · March 17, 2017
The 2017 West Branch boys’ track and field team has 38 athletes and a mixture of some experience and a lot of youth.
“I compare this group to the Iowa basketball team — a lot of youth, a lot of talent,” West Branch Head Coach Taylor Larson said. “(We have) some older kids who are really, really, really good. But we have a lot of greenness, a lot of inexperience just because of those (seniors lost to graduation).”
Last season, the team placed sixth at the state meet. The Bears sent seven events to Des Moines with Luke Lenoch and Cooper Kabela the only returning state-qualifying athletes.
“We had a really, really, really good year last year, and we have some really good runners coming back,” Larson said.
“Cooper Kabela is going to be a phenomenal leader for us. He’s going to do a great job. Jordan Baldwin has been a phenomenal leader stepping up.
“Ben Thompson is off to a good year already. I have high expectations.
“Kabela will be an anchor for us. He will hopefully qualify again in the 110-meter high hurdles for us. He has a personal goal of making the finals and placing in the 110 highs, which I think he has a really good shot at. He’s off to a good start.
“Luke Lenoch ran on a 4x100 team last year that did really, really well. He wants to do some 200s and 400s this year. He has his own goals about qualifying for state in the open 400.”
The team has a couple of senior throwers.
“Colton Dietz had a down year last year, but he threw over 38 feet the other week at UNI,” Larson said. “I think he’s going to do a really good job for us this year.
“Cole Tisinger is another really important one for us. He’s a senior in his second year out. He doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he’s got his own aspirations and goals.”
The Bears have plenty to look forward to from several athletes from last season’s team.
“We have Atlas Kolpin, a sophomore who ran a lot last year and did some really good things at the 800, 2-mile marker,” Larson said. “He already ran a personal record this year at UNI. He’s going to be phenomenal. I think he’ll be an elite 800, miler kid at state for 2A.
“Trey Eagle is a freshman with tons and tons and tons of potential. He’s got a great stride length. He works hard, he’s getting stronger. He’s very, very coachable.
“John Yates is another freshman who ran really well last year at the junior high level. I think he’s going to help us a ton.
“Ben Thompson is a junior and was off a personal record by about two seconds (from) what he ran last year. He did some really good things for us.”
Brandon Rummelhart is a senior leader. “He knows he’s not very fast, but he’s a heck of a leader,” Larson said. “He’ll do what we want him to do. He’s super coachable. He’s a great team player.”
This is Larson’s third year as head coach for the Bears.
“We’re building the program,” he said. “We have good parent support. The kids have bought in. The kids are seeing the benefits, and we’re having fun.”
Larson is assisted by Ben Holub, who coaches sprinters and jumpers; Dan Zuniga, who coaches throwers; Brad Wargo, who coaches sprinters and hurdlers; and Jim Cottingham, who coaches middle distance and distance runners.
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