Numbers are not where they could be for the Knoxville Girls Track and Field Squad this season, but with three returning State qualifiers Coach Michael Splavec is excited for the prospects of his team. Splavec tells KNIA/KRLS Sports it has already been a great start to the season just seeing how well the girls are responding to coaching and wanting to meet their preseason goals.

Splavec: “Got a smaller team this year, and numbers are not great. But the team we have is working hard, they’re asking questions and willing to be coached, so we can’t complain about the kids we have when they already want to work hard.”

Returning State Qualifiers include Melanie Sullivan in the 400, Ashlyn Finarty in the shot put and Ciara Heffron in the discus are returning for the Panthers plus a fully healthy Norah Pearson, who was forced to sit out last spring and most of the fall cross country season due to a lingering knee injury. Splavec is also excited to have a new throws coach this season as Doug Bacon will join the staff. Knoxville gets its season started on March 22nd with a meet at Simpson College.