FARMINGTON, Minn. -- With all the runners returning from a state meet relay and a school-record thrower, the Farmington girls track team has high hopes for 2025. Their boys' counterparts are swift in the sprints as part of a well-balanced team.

Senior Jada Henrikson started throwing shot put and discus as a seventh grader, "I got into it because my mom threw shot put and discus in high school. But she grew up in Kansas. So, she got to do javelin too. I wish Minnesota had javelin."

Given her limited choices, "I love discus." She holds the school record, "I like how light it is and how much more space you get in the ring…I like how it flies." 

She recently cleared 121 feet and has a goal of 140, plus hopes to qualify for state after just missing it with a third place throw at sections in 2024, "I'm 100-percent motivated. I want to get to state to get that experience." She's going to Bethel University where she will compete in track and volleyball.

Kate Martin started throwing as a sophomore, "I have definitely advanced a lot. My first year I didn't really know what I was doing at all. It was a totally new thing to me.

"It all coming together took a lot of time. This year (as a senior) is definitely the year that everything started to click, taking two years to perfect the technique." She's striving for the school record in shot put.

Martin is looking forward to the Ron Thelen Invite at FHS on May 15, "We all just get to have fun. Everybody cheers for everybody…It's our biggest home meet…Sometimes us throwers do a 4-by-100 together for that."

Sophia Venning, Lindsey Woestehoff, Brylee Cavanaugh, and Makayla Loduha made up the 4-by-800 squad that ran at state in 2024. Woestehoff, a senior, reflects, "We definitely put in a lot of work. I'm super proud of our team. It was such a cool experience. We got there and were able to have fun with it. We ran our best."

She's evolved from her time as a seventh grader when the longer distances were simpler, "Over the years as I have grown as a person and changing, I've gotten stronger, and I feel like I've become a better mid-distance runner.

"I've found that more fun. The 800, I like how you go out hard (and) it lasts a few minutes rather than the 3200 where you have to pace yourself," Woestehoff adds.

Cavanaugh, now a senior, runs events ranging from the 800 to the 3200. As for her favorite, "It depends on my mood. I'm not gonna lie. I like to cruise in the two-mile (3200) but I also like to go fast in the 800.

"In the 800 you just want to dominate the whole time. In the two mile it's mentally, how can I stay engaged in the race. It's important to look at the runners and see where you are and where you can advance next…Staying strong each lap, saying, 'I can do this.' Because it's an eight-lap race."

She says the Tigers have great depth, "Us distance girls are definitely strong (because) we have that experience from cross country." The Tigers have won the last eight section titles in cross country and finished tenth at state in November.

"Racing is all mental. And it's also putting that effort and hard work in practice," Cavanaugh says.

Boys team

Senior Brock Wyandt says Farmington has great depth in the sprints, "We've got some guys fighting for spots in (the) relays. We're going to experience a couple of different meets and we're gonna try some different relays and see which ones we fit the best in.

"In the short relays the handoff is very important. We've been working on that in practice. Then just finding the top four guys that can go out there and be the fastest."

The Tigers have had great success in the 4-by-200, "Freshman year I went to state in the 4-by-200 and then again last year we went to state in the 4-by-200. So, we've been pretty good. And I think this year we could also be very good in that race too."

Coach Adam Lippold is expecting plenty of points from the sprinters, "That's probably our most exciting group right now. We were a little worried with the numbers that we graduated from last year, but a lot of our upper classmen have really improved in the weight room and it's showing on the track. And our freshmen class is spectacular.

"Brock Wyandt and Dan Sather are two really incredible sprinters who are going to have three running events every meet when it comes to championship season."

Junior Adam Johnson runs anything from the 400 to the 3200, "Usually I've been more of a mile-, two-mile guy. This year I've been transferring down to (shorter) events.

"I like how quick they are. Sometimes the mile and two-mile are dreadful because it's a very long pain where the shorter events are over with quicker, and they're exciting." He says he puts in about the same mileage in training but spends more time lifting and cross training.

Johnson says FHS is young among its distance runners, "We have a super young team. I think it's the most depth we've ever had in recent years."

His message to teammates, "It's important to put in the miles. (You) don't always have to put in the hardest miles, but just consistently running throughout the year. Keep putting in the work and things will fall for you."

Lippold believes Johnson is going to "be a big scorer for us in the distance events."

Senior Max Speratos joined track last year as a thrower at the encouragement of his fellow football players, "We are already super comfortable with each other. We're bonded very well and all super competitive with each other. It just helps us grow."

Skills overlap between the two sports, "It helps a lot with explosiveness. I really like it…If I were to give a tip, start early, for sure. Because there's a lot of technique in it."

He enjoys the chance to get outside, "Being out here in the nice weather. It's a nice change from being inside all winter."

Speratos was thrilled to see Henrikson break the girls' school record, "It's pretty competitive up there between everyone. We do lots of competitions between each other and going against each other."

Lippold believes there's great all-around depth, "I always look for us to be a more rounded team, filling the events and doing well at the true team section meet."

He says the team was disciplined in the off season, "When I think of leaders I talk about what happens at practice and what happens in the off season. I've been impressed with a handful of boys that were working all fall, all winter. Charlie Coccarelli is a senior. His leadership is going to be missed next year."

The squads compete in the True Team sections at Lakeville South on May 6. The Ron Thelen Invitational is May 15 at FHS. The South Suburban Conference championships are May 20-21 at Eastview High School. Sections are May 29 and 31 at South. The state meet is June 10-12 at St. Michael Albertville.