With temperatures in the 60’s this week across southeast Iowa, many area track teams took the rare opportunity to practice outside in the middle of March. The WACO Warrior boys’ track team is one of the teams to move practice from inside the high school to the outdoors this week.

Warrior boys’ track coach Shannon Rugg says having practice outside this early in the season has been awesome. “Kids want to get outside because it is nice.” Rugg said, “They don’t want to be inside, they have been inside all winter. It is nice to get out, get on the track, and run.”

Among the returners back for the Warrior’s track team is senior track athlete Braden Blake, who is slated to be the Warrior’s top mid-distance runner this season. Blake qualified for state in the 800 meter dash last season, finishing in 13th place overall with a time of 2:05.42.

Junior Bryce Achen is another state qualifying track athlete back for the Warrior’s this season. Achen was on last year’s state qualifying shuttle hurdle team and had the team’s best 200 meter dash time (23.65) last season.

Senior Josh Shumaker returns as one of the top field athletes for the Warriors. He was the Warriors top thrower in the shot put (39′ 2.00″) and discuss (113′ 2.00″) competition last season.

Rugg plans to bring a group of his track athletes to Central Indoor Invitational this Friday in Pella.