POULSBO — Good high school track teams typically possess one of two characteristics: quantity or quality. It’s a good thing that this year, the North Kitsap Vikings appear to have both.  

The team’s quality stems from its state contending throwers, namely Jennifer Buckner, a shot putter at Star Track, and Ryan Young, who took the state title at the same event.

Also, thanks to a huge sophomore turnout — almost half of the whole team is in the 10th grade — the squad has nearly doubled its size, going from about 45 athletes a year ago to about 80 this year.

Head girls’ coach Dave Snyder, in his second year, credited the size boost not only to consistent recruiting by coaches but also the success of the North Kitsap boys’ basketball team, whose state run recently appears to have “engergized” NK’s students, he said. 

And judging by the sophomore turnout, Poulsbo and Kingston junior high school programs appeared to have given the program a boost as well.

“There’s been some nice surprises,” Snyder said. “But our strength’s still in throwing.”

That has certainly been the place the Vikings have enjoyed its greatest successes — North’s Buckner and Young leading a talented contingent. Indeed, one that has single-handedly given the Vikings team wins.

“Throwing has definitely carried us before,” said new boys’ coach Kaelea Makaiwi-Barreith.

As a result, most of the approximately 25 throwers on the team have confidence they can improve their events. For example, NK’s Ali Lydick, who throws disc, javelin and shot put, feels her chances are good that she can best her 100 foot discus throw by 10 to 15 feet.

One such former junior high star that will fill a role for the Vikings right out of the gate is Jade Niemeyer, who plans to run a relay, participate in the long jump and throw the javelin. There isn’t much Neimeyer can’t do, her coaches said, and that makes her a versatile athlete the Vikings can utilize.

“Wherever they need me, whatever I can do to help the team,” she said.

Young, however, will need to have some recovery time from a rigorous basketball season. The senior may have fractured shin bones, which would take time to heal. But whatever the case, the senior doesn’t expect to miss any significant events on her way to what could be another state appearance.

Buckner is also aiming to improve and is looking to increase her shot put distance to 38 feet. She went to state last year with a 35-foot-5-inch throw.

Coach Makaiwi-Barreith returns to the track program, this time as boys’ head coach. An assistant coach, she had left the program in 2003, but returned when Tim Adams quit the job at the end of last year.  

“I’m excited because our numbers are back up from when I was an assistant coach,” Makaiwi-Barreith said. “Last year, we didn’t fill all the events and we’d lose matches because of it.”

A deep coaching roster also includes strength coach Chase Dukes and pole vault coach Bruce Swanson. Veteran North Kitsap coach Tom Driscoll is back to teach the sprinters and NKHS graduate Joan Starr has returned to coach distance running and the high jump as well.

“The kids are working hard, they’ve got a positive spirit,” Starr said. “It makes it fun to come to practice.”

One area the team has the quality but not the quantity is in its running, an aspect Driscoll hopes can improve through the increased numbers.

“Long sprinters are the back bone of this team,” Driscoll said. “Unfortunately, there aren’t enough of them.” 

Nonetheless, there are many returning and new runners who could make district and state runs. Veteran hurdlers Kari Hoover and Kyle Hollenback will return this year as well.

On the longer runs, Greta Stickney, who went to state in cross country is hoping to repeat her fall success in the spring with yet another trip to Eastern Washington for the biggest high school track competition. The junior will also up her distances and run the 3,200-meter dash. Junior Steve Nelson, who ran similar distances, is also hoping to go far for the Vikings in the longer categories.  

One runner who is changing her ways is senior Kim Skelly, who missed state in the 800 meter dash by mere hundredths of a second last year. She has decided to shift her focus into the jumping events, though she said she might run a relay.

“I figured I’d mix it up a little this year,” she said.

There are also several runners who aren’t sophomores, but are anticipated upperclassmen who haven’t been able to compete yet. One runner returning with distance experience is Josh Berry, who missed seven weeks a year ago due to foot surgery. This year he hopes to have a healthy — and highly successful — season.

“I’m going to go as far as I can,” he said.  

Another is Dak Kougela, who was homeschooled before this past year.

“I’ve always wanted to do track all my life. It’s always been my dream to

run,” he said. “This year will be an experimental year.”