In track and field team success often comes from quantity over quality.

The Coupeville girls track and field team will try and prove the theory wrong this year with its small, but experienced team.

“The girls we have returning are strong, there just aren’t very many,” head coach Greg Oldham said.

Leading the way of returners are the sophomore 4×100 relay team of Corrine Gaddis, Alicia Heinen, Kim Kisch and Maddy Ess. The team advanced to the Tri-District meet and nearly made the 1A state meet, missing out by one place.

Gaddis, Heinen and Kisch also made the Tri District meet in the 100 meter dash. Kisch, who is also a strong high jumper, missed the state cut by narrowly nicking the bar.

Others who are coming back are Kristina Morris in the hurdles and Janiece Jenkins in the sprints and jumps. Morris was a Tri-District competitor, while Jenkins had to sit out most of the year due to injury after winning four events in last year’s season-opener.

“If we can keep her healthy I think we can really have some success,” Oldham said.

The Wolves will lack experience in their throws this year. State shot put participant Lexie Black opted to take the spring off from sports.

“We’re thin with our throws and that’s one place you can’t be thin,” Oldham said.

The Coupeville boys bring in a slightly larger team with a mix of key returners and newcomers.

Senior Andrew Moon, a league champion in the 200 meters and Tri-District participant in the 100 and 200, will lead the way for the sprinters. Seniors Tom Rodgers and Chris Hutchinson are returners that will provide depth in the middle distance runs.

Hurdlers Allen Fruik, Brendan Roof and Mason Hughes are all district competitors from last year that Oldham thinks might be able to take a step even farther this year.

There is also a group of freshmen that could make a large impact on the Wolves this year.

Kyle King ran in the mid 4:50’s as an eighth grader and is expected to only get better.

“He’s one that I really think can come in and surprise some people,” Oldham said.

Other freshmen expected to make an immediate impact are Danny Brown , Clay Hughes and Garritt Manker.

Athletic sophomore Trevor Tucker has also opted to join the track team this year.

“We’ve tried to make this an activity kids want to excel in,” Oldham said. “We wanted to add a pursuit of excellence and I think we have done a pretty good job of that.”

Coupeville has its first meet of the season Thursday, March 24 at Concrete. They only have two home meets this year, with the first coming on April 15.