Mustangs Track 2021

The Malta Mustangs Track team returned to practice for the first time in a year, optimistic that they will compete for the first time since 2019.

In 2019, the Mustangs had over 20 athletes and earned second place at the Northern B Divisional. Instead of seeing if they could repeat their success, the track season was grounded due to the threat of COVID-19.

The team is 12 strong this season and hopes to have a strong showing in the 2021 offseason, though the team has no state returners.

Though the team has no returning state competitors, the team does return a few upperclassmen from the 2019 season including Camryn Mears, RC Skiff, Eion Estill, Cash Salsbery, Connor Tuss, David Pittman, and Rex Williamson.

Skiff, a senior, won the 100-meter dash at the Havre Invitational with a time of 13.77.

Williamson, a junior, was a participant in various running, jumping, and throwing events during his freshman year. He posted a personal best of 12.59 in the 100-meter dash and cleared a length of 17-7.75 in long jump. He was also a part of the long relay team consisting of Kooper Oxarart, Keigo Kawai, and Michael Pugh, who took sixth at the 2019 Northern Divisional B.

Salsbery, a junior, participated in sprints and throwing events back in 2019, and just missed out on divisionals placing seventh in shot put. He posted a personal best of 39-10.25 at the Malta Invitational and consistently posted times within 13 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

Tuss, a junior, participated in the Northern B Divisional 110- hurdles and set a personal best of 22.42.

Second-year Head Coach Kaitlyn Smith is excited to lead her team to a meet for the first time in her coaching career.

"So far things are looking good," Coach Smith said when asked about her teams. "There is a lot of athletic ability here so I am excited about that. We have a lot of potential."

Coach Smith said that she was happy that the MHSA loosened many of their proposed rules, which would've limited schools in their ability to compete.

The teams started practices on Monday, March 15. It was the first time most of the athletes have participated in track and field in any capacity since March of 2020, due to the COVID-19 cancellation of the 2020 season.

Despite missing the season, Coach Smith believes that things have gone well.

"They are learning all over again," Coach Smith said. "Missing last year was also a downfall because they didn't gain the experience. We have a lot of sophomores and freshmen, but they are all basically freshmen to track because they didn't get a season last year."

The full list of names competing for the Mustang track team includes: Camryn Mears, Cash Salsbery, Chadon Crnkovich, Connor Tuss, David Pitman, Eion Estill, Gavin Slade, Kyle Darrington, RC Skiff, Rex Williamson, Ryker Ackerman, and Thaddious Adams.