By MINDY KEPFIELD

Staff writer

Efforts to patch bare spots on the surface of Peabody-Burns track have left its team with nowhere to practice these past few weeks, making for a frustrating start to the season.

“It’s really quite a surprise,” coach Kody Tegtmeier. “The team is ready to get back at it and we don’t have a track.”

Tegtmeier has been having the team run in the country and around town to get them back in shape.

A bigger challenge to the team this year is the fact that it only has 11 members which means Peabody probably will not be able to net an overall team win.

However, Tegtmeier thinks five of his students are very capable of qualifying for state.

“We have a good group of kids that enjoy competing and pushing each other to get better each day,” he said.

Several already have started to shine as potential competitors, good examples, and teammates.

Tegtmeier expects great things this season from junior Jake Partridge in the long and triple jumps and as a sprinter.

“He has come a long way since his freshman season and has really bought into improving himself physically,” he said. “He loves to compete and has a desire to win.”

He appreciates the way seniors Jasper Talkington and Gage Branson have led younger teammates by example by showing up and pushing themselves to get better.

Senior girls Mady Foth, Mackenzie Eden, Sarah Spencer, and junior Mya Winter are devoted competitors who show up every day and work hard without having to be asked.

Foth and Eden, along with sophomore Jefferson Glover, have given their teammates endless positive encouragement.

“Jefferson Glover is our hype man,” Tegtmeier said. “He is our biggest and strongest kid, however he loves to see his teammates continue to improve.”

Peabody-Burns first meet will be at 4 p.m. April 6 at Hillsboro High School.