Season Begins For West Fork Girls Track And Field

The West Fork Warhawks girls track and field team had their first meet of the year at the 2025 Girls A.D. Dickinson Relays on March 11.

As the season gets underway, head coach Ashley Sears said that heading into the first meet that she was excited to see what some of the freshmen can bring to the team this year. She is also excited to see what some of the returning athletes can do this year as well.

From what she saw last year, Sears said one of the events that can be a strength for the team is the high jump.

“We are looking forward to having Keara Wood back in the high jump, she is a senior this year and she has made it to state several times. So we are excited to have her jumping. “We should have a decent shuttle hurdle team this year as we have some freshmen that are going to add to our hurdle strength.”

The team has multiple state qualifiers coming back in multiple events as well.

“Evelyn Hitzhusen and Joanna Wallace and some of the girls from our state qualifying 4x800-meter relay team, they are all back and we are excited to see what we can do.”

There are a few athletes that Sears said she thinks can have a big year this season.

“Keara Wood in the high jump, she is expected to have a good season. We are excited to have Karma McMorris a senior, she hasn’t come out in a couple of years but she has a good speed. Looking to see some big things from Preslee Dickman and JoAnna Wallace with the mid to short sprints and Evelyn Hitzhusen is a sophomore who made it to state in a couple of event last year and we are hoping to see see her in several more events at state this upcoming season.”

Having a few athletes that have made it to state or have just missed qualifying for state, Sears said she thinks the athletes know the importance of every practice.

“They know that hard work does pay off and while track is not always the most fun sport, especially in Northern Iowa with freezing cold meets by the end of the night. But they have bought in and they know with the right training and the right attitude and mindset and hopefully they know that if they put in the work that they can reap the benefits,” Sears said.

As the season moves along, Sears said she would like to see growth from everyone at the team and to peak at the right time of the season in May.

“We are hoping to get personal records at each meet and that everyone is having a good time and that we have good team chemistry,” Sears said. “The end result obviously is to get as many athletes and different events to qualify for state.”

The team’s next meet is at the 2025 IATC Indoor Championships at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center on March 14 at 9 a.m.