Abby track preview

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turn. However, bad luck hurt the squad late last season, something that Knapmiller hopes the team is able to avoid in 2025.

“Our boys return some really talented and experienced guys in all events,” he said, “We didn't have any state qualifiers last year but battled some injuries late in the year. We look for Christian Fuentes and Chase Boller to be leaders in our sprints and jumps and Marcus VanLuven in the throws. Carter Cihlar should lead our vaulters as well.”

Boller grabbed a spot at the sectional meet after taking second at the regional meet in Gilman as a sophomore and will be looking to make a repeat bid. He was also one of Abbotsford’s top options in the triple jump last season.

Fellow junior Fuentes had his season cut early last year but is looking to bounce back in his 2025 campaign. Consistently near the top in the long jump and sprinting events during 2024’s first half of competition, Fuentes will be aiming for similar success this year.

Meanwhile, VanLuven was the Falcons’ top thrower last season down the stretch, just missing out on a sectional meet appearance after placing fifth in the shot put in Gilman.

Cihlar saw rapid improvement in the pole vault over the course of his freshman season, putting forth his best performances in the postseason. He grabbed a seventh place finish at the sectional meet by reaching a height of 12 feet.

With the Falcons’ top distance runner Jack Schindler having graduated, the Falcons will be looking for a new face to lead the group. There will also be plenty of fresh faces looking to fill in the gaps.

“We are looking for our large group of boys distance runners to step up and compete this year with Jack Sheahan being one we hope takes a jump forward,” Knapmiller said. “Our boys have a lot of first year track athletes and we will look for them to grow as the year goes on.”

A number of strong Marawood teams will make competing for a conference title an uphill battle for a still relatively young Abbotsford team.

“Our conference is so tough and Stratford is maybe untouchable on the boys side with depth and talent,” Knapmiller noted. “But we think that we have potential to have some kids that can put themselves in a position to be at sectionals and our relays could be very competitive.”

The Falcons first indoor meet was on Tuesday afternoon at UW-River Falls. Results from the meet will be in next week’s issue. The girls will be back in action as they travel to Marshfield on Thursday, March 27 while the boys will have a bit more time off, returning to the indoor scene on Thursday, April 3 at UW-Stout. The meet in Marshfield will begin at 4:30 p.m.

2025 ABBOTSFORD BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM - This year’s 2025 Abbotsford boys track and field team is, in the back row, left to right, Gunner Graves, Tyler Yeske, Jovanny Cruz, Kamron Krueger, Marcus VanLuven, Jack Sheahan, Irvin Davila, and Chase Boller. In the front row, left to right, are Carter Cihlar, Carlos Beltran, Kevin Guitierrez, Van Tran, Preston Belanger, Angel Tzintzun and Guillermo Puente. Missing: Christian Fuentes, Frank Zavala, Marco Garcia, Tavo Diaz, Josue Tzintzun, Caleb Kulesa and Luis Lujan.

STAFF PHOTO/SAMANTHA YOCIUS