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ESCANABA -- The Escanaba girls hope to make up for lost time after being denied a track and field season a year ago due to COVID-19.
Esky, which has 27 on its team, travels to Menominee for a quadrangular meet which includes Rapid River and Stephenson today at 4:45.
"This is a small turnout for us," said coach Dan DeLong. "I think some of it's due to COVID. We weren't able to get too many ninth graders. Last year we had four practices, then everything stopped. We weren't able to grab many of the freshmen. It's tough to get the girls to come out once they get into the higher grades. Although, we do have a lot of upperclassmen. We definitely have some experience. We're kind of a mystery team. We don't know what to expect from the underclassmen."
The Eskymos appear to have plenty of depth in the distances where junior Ciara Ostrenga appears to be the early pacesetter.
"Our distances are looking pretty good," said DeLong. "We have 3-of-4 back in the 3200 (meter) relay. Lilia Hughes and Allison Korpi are back, and Ava Gardner is running real strong right now. Nicole Kamin will try to double with softball and track. She runs pretty well. She definitely has the talent."
Also among the leaders are seniors Chasity Brown and Anna Smith (sprints), who's also doing high jump and long jump, senior Faith Lancour and junior Bailey Barron (hurdles) and junior Daelynn Anderson (hurdles and sprints).
Korpi also throws the discus beside helping the 3200 relay with juniors Morgan Gartland and Abby Rexford entered in the weight events.
Representing the Eskymos in pole vault are junior Savannah Kobasic and sisters Alivia Royer (junior) and Valerie Royer (freshman).
After today's opener, Esky visits Rapid River for the Delta County Invitational Tuesday.
The Eskymos are entered in the Manistique Kiwanis Invitational for the first time, April 30, then host Kingsford in a dual meet May 4.
The Division 1 regional (May 20) and Great Northern Conference meet (May 27) are in Marquette.
"Marquette is always strong, and Menominee could be good," said DeLong. "Vickie (coach Paupore) does a great job at Negaunee. They'll be pretty strong. Houghton is strong in the distances, and Gladstone has some good hurdlers."
April 22 -- at Menominee
April 27 -- Delta County Invitational at Rapid River
April 30 -- Manistique Invitational.
May 4 -- Kingsford
May 7 -- Escanaba Jayvee Invitational
May 11 -- at Gladstone
May 14 -- Negaunee Invitational
May 20 -- D-1 regional at Marquette
May 25 -- JVs at Menominee
May 27 -- GNC meet at Marquette.
June 5 -- U.P. Finals at Kingsford.