Track and Field Kicks Off: A Large Roster of Athletes Anticipate The Season

Adam Elwell

The Advocate

MHCC showed up at their first track and field meet with the largest team they have had since 2020 last Saturday, March 7 at the perennial Erik Anderson Icebreaker in McMinnville.  While the season is still young, spirits are high. Both head coach Fernando Fantroy and teammates cited men’s hurdler River McClure and women’s field Ava Hanson as standout athletes to watch for the season. Fantroy nominated both for NWAC athlete of the week after last week’s meet.  

The team has another meet this weekend on the 14th in Newberg, but according to Fantroy, “...the one I’m really looking at is in May, which is championship month, the Oregon State High Performance meet. That’s going to be a precursor to our southern region championship.”  

Freshman field athlete Landon Bates echoed the sentiment.  “We’ve got a better team, and we have a bigger team. We’ve got a more diverse team (in reference to events). I feel like what we have confidence that we can make top three or top five.” 

An appearance in championship month would certainly be kismet for the team this year; the championship will be held at MHCC on May 18th and 19th. 

“We’ve got a better team, and we have a bigger team. We’ve got a more diverse team (in reference to events). I feel like that we have confidence that we can make top three or top five.“

-Freshman Athlete Landon Bates