Scott Mauk

The return of track and field this spring brings many firsts for the East Jefferson Rivals program. It will be the first full season since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rivals’ first season as a member of the Nisqually League, and the first full season with athletes from Chimacum High and Port Townsend High as one team.

Regardless of the adversity, Ian Fraser, Rivals track and field head coach, is confident in his athletes and their abilities.

“Because we’ve had just one truncated season in the past two years, this will be the first real season of track and field for most of the athletes,” he said.

“In many ways, they’re coming into the season with fresh eyes.”

While there are multiple students on the team capable of making it to district and state-level competitions, the season will also be one to build up experience for first-year athletes.

“There are a few athletes returning who have a good chance to place quite well at the state championship meet in a variety of events. But for most of the athletes it will be a learning season,” Fraser said.

“We’ll learn about their athletic qualities; they’ll learn about their athletic interests; and together we’ll try and figure out where they’ll have the most fun and the most success and how to get them there,” he added.

Although there will be many rookies to track and field in the Rivals’ program, the head coach has major ambitions for his squad.

With the merging of Chimacum and Port Townsend high schools’ athletic programs, Fraser believes the fresh faces will give East Jefferson a competitive edge.

“Participation numbers play a huge role in team success. I think it’s a pretty realistic expectation that both of these teams could be league and district champions, and that we’ll take more athletes than ever before to compete for medals and titles at the state championship meet over the Memorial Day weekend at Eastern Washington University,” he said.

“If we get 75 to 80 percent of what would be a normal year for both Port Townsend and Chimacum participation combined into one program, though, I think it would likely, quite starkly, make them the teams to beat in the district,” Fraser added.

Although there’s still a lot of unknowns for participation rates and the quality of competition in the league and beyond, EJ’s track and field team is ready to participate at their highest level and learn along the way.

The Rivals’ first meet is the Seattle Academy Invitational on Saturday, March 19 at Shoreline Stadium.

To view the team’s upcoming schedule, go to www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/School.aspx?SchoolID=358.