The girls track and field team expects to center around four of its top returners this year.

These athletes are sophomore Sydney Walker, juniors Mary Wheeler and Mackenzie Ramey, and senior Madison Jordan. These four girls have excelled in their past seasons of track and field and hope to keep improving throughout the season.

Even though Ramey is a relatively new member of the team, starting last year, she may be the best athlete on the team after placing 12th in the state in the shot put at the MHSAA Division 1 state final last year.

At first, Ramey didn’t even know if she liked the sport after she joined.

“I did soccer my freshman year and didn’t want to do it again, and I couldn’t just not play a sport,” Ramey said. “So I decided to participate in shot put and discus. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning or if I even liked it, but I was going to stop and I’m so glad I didn’t.”

Even though Ramey was new to the sport, that didn’t stop her from excelling. With a personal record of 37-3.5 in the shot put, Ramey is only four feet away from the school record.

“I would have never guessed I would make it that close,” Ramey said. “I feel so proud and determined now that I’m right there. I’m definitely not stopping now, and for sure my next goal is breaking that record.”

To do that, Ramey has to push herself harder in practices.

“I plan to improve my performance by gaining more arm muscle than I had last year and just working so much harder to accomplish my goal,” Ramey said.

Ramey believes this season will be a good season for the team.

“I can’t wait to see the amazing things we accomplish this year,” Ramey said. “We have some new, amazing talent coming up that will definitely improve us as a whole.”

Ramey hopes to see more girls make it to the state final this season.

As for Walker, this season will be her fifth track season, four at KHS and one at the middle school.

Walker began the sport to stay in shape and condition for her basketball season, but she enjoyed the sport more than anticipated and stuck with it. Walker participates in both long and high jump, and she also runs on the 400- and 800-meter relay teams.

Walker’s personal best in high jump is 4 foot, 8 inches and, just like any other athlete, she wants to raise the standard.

“I plan on jumping at least 5 feet because that will qualify me for regionals,” Walker said.

To make improvements, you need to train harder and Walker plans to do just that.

“I will be working on my breathing and pushing myself to become the best runner I can be,” Walker said.

Although this year the team is smaller than in the past, Walker said they are working hard.

“We have a lot of dedicated and committed girls ready to work,” Walker said.

Walker wants to see her team be victorious this season.

“I would like to see at least three girls representing Kearsley at states,” Walker said. “I would also like us, as a team, to take home a lot more dubs (wins).”

Another thrower on the team, Wheeler has been a member of the track and field team since her freshman year.

The reason she gave track and field a try was because of the Olympics.

“I joined because I remember watching the Olympic throwers, and I thought it was cool, Wheeler said.

The Olympic athletes had an impact on Wheeler’s interests in field events. She now throws shot put and discus.

Wheeler’s personal best in discus is 100 feet, 8 inches, and she plans to throw even farther this year.

“From my freshmen year’s PR to my sophomore year’s, I improved by 17 feet,” Wheeler said. “So this year, I hope to improve by at least 10 feet.”

To do this, Wheeler wants to focus more during her practices.

“I plan on working on my technique and practicing harder and longer,” Wheeler said.

There were a few star athletes that graduated last year, but Wheeler believes her team can still be successful despite losing those teammates.

“Although we lost A’ver (McKay), we gained some very fast freshmen,” Wheeler said. “In addition, the girls from last year are still quite fast, and our girl throwers are going to improve tremendously.”

Wheeler set goals for both her and the team coming into this season.

“My personal goal is to hit 110-plus feet this season (in the discus),” Wheeler said. “My goal for my team is to be number one in the league.”

Jordan is the top senior returning for the Hornets.

This is Jordan’s fourth and final season on the high school track and field team, and she joined because her friends participated in track. She competes in the 800 and 1600 relays, as well as the open 400.

Jordan hopes to improve her times by “pushing myself more during the races and being more confident while running.”

Jordan believes that although the team has shrunk in size, it will still be a successful season.

“We have a lot of great talent this year,” Jordan said, “and while we have a small team, we do have great runners.”

Jordan is both happy and sad to run her final year of track.

“I will miss the team and fun at practices,” Jordan said. “But I will also be relieved because meets make me so nervous.”

The girls track and field team will first compete at Saginaw Valley State University’s Ryder Field House at the SVSU Indoor Invitational on Thursday, March 22. The meet begins at noon.