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MANISTIQUE -- In a year in which area most schools have experienced a decrease in track and field numbers, the Manistique girls are fortunate enough to have a slight increase.
The Emeralds, who have 20 on their roster, host their annual Kiwanis Invitational Friday at 4 p.m.
"We've been getting a few more girls to come out each year," said third-year coach Amy Nixon. "We're trying to build a program. Although with Covid, I thought having to wear a mask with weekly testing may have kept some girls from coming out."
The Emeralds opened last Thursday in a triangular meet at Gladstone where they were edged 65-62 by the host team. Third-place Iron Mountain had 35 points.
"We just wanted the girls to get some experience," said Nixon. "For most of them, that was their first high school meet. We knew we weren't going to run our best times, but I'm happy with the effort the girls gave. Winning the 3200 relay was a solid start for them, and they have the ability to run a bit faster. Gladstone's track was a little different from ours, but the girls adjusted well."
The Emeralds have three seniors; Kayla Muth in the 1600 and 3200-meter relay and open 400, Ava Fleck (sprint relays and 300 hurdles) and Emma Swanson (sprints).
"We'll rely on these girls a lot," said Nixon. "They have the bulk of our experience. They're real good leaders, and they're showing the way."
The junior class is represented by Alyssa Ecclesine in the distances.
Sophomore hopefuls are Sarah McDaniel, Kelsey Muth and Nora Cunningham (middle distances), Ava Hinkson (distance) and Ariana Enbetta (weight events and sprints).
More than half of the team is comprised of freshmen.
They include Linnea Way (mid distance), Emma Jones (sprints and mid distance), Tammy Nadeau and Skylar Semanski (sprints and long jump), Skye Rice and Noelle LaVance (sprints), Ella Schuetter (weight events and sprints), Danielle Lund (weight events and sprint relays), Jade Rahn (hurdles and pole vault), Mattisyn Hunkala (shot put and hurdles) and Mikayla Aldridge (weight events).
"Emma is pretty fast," said Nixon. "We can put her in anything up to the 800. We're going to be very competitive among each other, and we expect to be pretty competitive in the mid distances. We have mostly freshmen in the throwing events, and they're doing a good job. Hurdles are always a challenge, and we have only one in the 100. We could use more girls in the 100, high jump and pole vault. We're just thankful we're getting to have a season and anxious to keep it going."
Nixon points to Marquette and Negaunee as the teams to beat in the Upper Peninsula and Mid-Peninsula Conference, respectively.
"Marquette has a lot of numbers, and Negaunee is always strong," she said.
The remaining schedule:
April 30 -- Manistique Kiwanis Invitational.
May 4 -- at Munising; May 6 -- St. Ignace Invitational; May 11 -- Manistique invitational II; May 14 -- Munising Invitational; May 18 -- Newberry Invitational; May 20 -- D-1 regional at Marquette; May 24 -- M-PC meet at Negaunee.
June 5 -- U.P. Finals at Kingsford.