WARDSVILLE, Mo. - The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons will have a lot of familiar faces on the track this season.
They'll return 25 upperclassmen, as well as seven state qualifiers, heading into today's season opener at California.
"They know what to expect and they've done it before," Blair Oaks girls coach Marc Keys said. "It's just another day at the office."
The 4x800-meter relay will have familiar faces too. Four, to be exact.
Seniors Rachel Isenberg and Taylor Scott, junior Emily Yaeger and sophomore Kayla Jones all return on Blair Oaks' state-qualifying relay, which Keys expects to be the team's marquee relay.
"We're a little bit better and everyone is in good shape," Keys said. "We will see how that develops through the year."
The Lady Falcons will have everyone returning in both the 4x100 and 4x200, and Keys said the 4x400 uses most of the runners from the 4x800.
"I think our relays will be consistent week in and week out," Keys said.
Blair Oaks also brings back two state-qualifying throwers. Senior Cassie Twehus advanced past districts in the shot put by less than an inch, then finished sixth in the event at state.
"Just get that extra point," Keys said. "She ended up being all-state, so that was exciting."
Annette Peterson was one spot shy of finishing all-state in the discus last year as a freshman.
"That was pretty impressive, I think we can build off that," Keys said.
In addition to being a leader in the relays, Yaeger also led Blair Oaks in the distance events. A cross country state qualifier this past fall, Yaeger competed at state last May in the 800-meters.
"Her goal is to get closer to the school record in the 800, get all-state in the 800 and do really well in the 4x800," Keys said. "We're probably one of the few that can think about realistically being the state champion in the 4x800."
Senior Alexa Stegeman will be one of the team's leading sprinters, running the 4x100 last year in addition to qualifying for state in the 100-meter hurdles.
"She's probably one of the more boisterous and excitable people on our team," Keys said. "That's nice to have that energy and having fun every day."
Keys said the Lady Falcons, with 35 competitors this spring, will be a well-rounded team. Blair Oaks lost both high jumpers last year, but they'll have new competitors in that event this year.
But being well-rounded doesn't always make for the best results.
"I think we're going to be well-rounded, but well-rounded doesn't do well at state," Keys said. "You've got to have the stud athletes that can really score.
"But at the conference level and during the season, I think we're going to have everyone do well. I don't think there will be too many events that we don't come home with medals on a regular day."
As for the Blair Oaks boys, being well-rounded in events isn't a high priority right now.
The Falcons' numbers have dropped to 20 athletes this spring, with only five seniors returning on the roster.
"We have to pick and choose which events that we can do," Blair Oaks boys coach Nathan Holtmeyer said. "We can't physically fill all 19 events."
Like the girls, the Blair Oaks boys return quite a bit from last year's 4x800 state-qualifying team, which was the Falcons' only first-place event at districts. Junior Cole Brenneke and sophomores Adam McCauley and Ben Thomas return, so the Falcons are looking for one more person to fill that relay.
"We've got some people fighting for that fourth position," Holtmeyer said. "That's going to make or break us, so hopefully we have some people step up."
Holtmeyer said the distance runners had a great offseason and have high expectations heading into today's meet.
"One thing I always stress is we're not a team trying to do our best at the California Tri," Holtmeyer said. "We're trying to do our best at the end."
Blair Oaks also brings back a pair of state-qualifying throwers: senior Kaleb Cox in the discus and junior Josh Henson in the javelin.
"Throughout the offseason, Kaleb was doing some different things and I think he's looking to pick up right where he left off," Holtmeyer said.
Henson also set his personal-best in the javelin at state last year.
The Falcons return their top two sprinters with senior Paul Karsten and sophomore Dalton Bridges, who was the only freshman last year in the district to qualify for the 200 finals.
"Paul is a three-sport athlete and definitely a very vocal senior for us," Holtmeyer said. "He ended up making the finals in the open 200 at districts last year. We're really looking to put a lot on his back, and Dalton follows his example."
Sophomore Trinity Scott will also return this season in the pole vault and hurdles events.
Even with small numbers, the Falcons will have new faces on the team this year. Sophomore Marcus Edler has worked his way onto the 4x200 relay and will run hurdles, and sophomore Caleb Buechter has shown promise in the throwing events, particularly the javelin.
Senior Chase Niekamp, another newcomer, will also contribute for the Falcons.
Blair Oaks will have two matches per week for its first three weeks of the season and will hold its home meet at 3:45 p.m. Friday at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
"We're pretty anxious and I'm extremely anxious," Holtmeyer said.