ESCANABA — A noticeably larger turnout than a year ago has the Escanaba girls feeling optimistic about this track season.

The Eskymos, who open today at 4:30 in Menominee, have 48 on their team compared to 31 a year ago.

Among this year’s student-athletes are 22 freshmen.

“This gives us more options,” said coach Dan DeLong who’s entering his 20th year.

“We have more kids competing for more spots. This is the hardest working freshman class I’ve had in a long time. We have a lot of girls in different spots.”

Senior leaders include Kaitlyn Lord, last year’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 runner-up in pole vault, Meghan Farrell in the sprints, Alicia Picord (sprints and long jump), Courtney Boyle (hurdles and long jump), Maddie Dix (hurdles and weight events), Anna Steger (middle distance and long jump), Gabi Staleberger (distance) and Jenna Pease (weight events).

“Kaitlyn also does well in the sprints as does Meghan, and Courtney does well in the hurdles,” said DeLong. “We have a lot more depth than last year. We have a great bunch of senior leaders. The girls have an excellent work ethic.”

Also included are six juniors. They are Rianna Anderson, Jenna Chenier and Alexis Cutler (weight events), Grace Taylor (high jump), Haylee Tolman (sprints) and Madison Ide (distance).

Sophomore hopefuls include Makaela Babb and Lillia Hughes (distance), Chasity Brown (sprints), Amanda Beem and Faith Lancour (hurdles), Anna Smith (long jump and high jump) and Paige Wellman (weight events).

“We haven’t been on a track that much (due to weather),” said DeLong. “The first meet will be an eye-opener for some. We have a lot of numbers in the distances. We’re definitely young in the distances, but we’ll be much improved from last year. We have very promising freshmen who have a lot to prove.”

Also sharing the coaching duties are Kathy Cibula (sprints), Joe Royer (pole vault), Dan Flynn (weight events) and Stephanie Ostrenga and Kendall Heliin (sprints and relays).

“They’re the reason why I’ve been able to coach 20 years,” said DeLong. “I like to work with the distances. Because of the coaches we have, I’m able to work those kids.”

DeLong believes the race for the U.P. title will be wide open this season.

“Negaunee will be strong,” he said. “Chloe Norman is an excellent athlete and Emily Paupore is a real good distance runner. Westwood also has an excellent distance runner (Tessa Leece) and Kingsford will have a quality team. Marquette has so many athletes to choose from and Sault Ste. Marie always has some quality athletes. Menominee has good hurdlers and I’m sure Gladstone will have some good athletes. We’re young, but we’ll do our best.”

The schedule:

April 16 — at Menominee; April 23 — Gladstone and Menominee; April 25 — Delta County Invitational; April 30 — at Kingsford.

May 3 — Esky Jayvee Invitational; May 7 — at Gladstone; May 10 — at Negaunee Invitational; May 16 — D-1 regional meet; May 21 — at Menominee Jayvee Invitational; May 23 — GNC meet at Menominee.

June 1 — U.P. Finals at Kingsford.