A New Identity Rooted in Youth and Momentum
The story of this year's Carroll Track & Field program begins with its youth. The roster is one of the youngest in the region, yet already one of the most talented that the staff, led by Josh Hurlebaus, has assembled. Four athletes sit inside the national top 50, including three freshmen who are already making names for themselves in their primary events. Their rapid rise speaks to both a strong recruiting class and a group learning quickly what it means to balance the life of a college athlete: demanding practices, academic load, and the responsibility of stepping into leadership roles earlier than expected.

The program's goals reflect both ambition and sustainability. The Pioneers are looking to send athletes back to nationals, with freshman Carlos Cadet already poised to contend in the triple jump after finishing with a strong nationally ranked mark as well as breaking the school record. Just as important is maintaining the team's identity as true student-athletes. Both the men and women earned all-academic team recognition last season, and the staff continues to elevate expectations for success that extends well beyond competition.

A successful indoor season, according to Hurlebaus, is built around the pillars rehearsed daily: consistent training, challenging practices, and a mindset that the only new factor at a meet should be who stands in the other lane or on the next runway. Results are important, but the true measure is how well the group handles the controllables — school, nutrition, sleep, recovery — and whether those habits carry naturally into outdoor season.

Early-Season Indicators Show Balance and Upside
The opening meets have already revealed a team with significantly more balance than in recent years. Strong early placements are coming from every event group, not just isolated pockets of specialists. School records have already been broken or seriously threatened, and the coaching staff sees a trajectory that suggests many marks may fall before the season ends.

Even with only four meets in the books, nearly every unit has shown promise. No event group feels behind pace, and the staff expects steady improvement as training loads begin to taper. Several newcomers have already validated expectations placed on them during last fall's training cycle, showing maturity and readiness well beyond the typical freshman curve.

The staff has resisted the urge to make major adjustments early. A season-long plan is already charted, and the priority is making sure athletes trust the process through the natural bumps of the indoor grind. As workloads come down, the staff anticipates performance will rise sharply — a trend they've already seen in February.

Leadership Emerging Across a Young Roster
This year's leadership dynamic is unique. The throws group is anchored by a strong senior class that has experienced program success firsthand and now sets the technical and cultural standard for younger athletes. On the track, the sprint and jumps groups may be young, but the women's freshman class has already stepped into meaningful leadership roles. They bring a seriousness to training, maintain excellent academic habits, and model consistency that raises expectations for the entire roster.

Roster depth is strongest in the sprints and jumps, where multiple athletes are competing for relay spots and scoring opportunities. The Pioneers have more relay options than in past years, giving the staff flexibility heading into championship season. As for newcomers with scoring potential, several freshmen are already pacing well enough to project as conference finalists by late season.

Event Group Outlooks

Sprints/Hurdles
Training has emphasized high-quality, high-intensity skill work — technical acceleration, block clearance, max velocity development, and rhythm mechanics. The group's maturity shows in how they prepare for those sessions, knowing they must be fresh to get the most out of race-speed work. While individuals are still emerging, early segments suggest that both the 60/200 groups and the women's hurdle group are trending upward quickly.

Mid-Distance/Distance
The distance crew enters the season with strong aerobic bases from cross country, but the shift to track has required learning the rhythms of varying race distances, from tactical 800s to patient 5Ks. Coach Thielitz has emphasized race-pattern education, and the group is beginning to settle into clearer identities across events.

Jumps
Technical development is most evident in the triple jump, where athletes are learning to maintain posture through all three phases. The focus has been on controlled positions that conserve speed while eliminating wasted motion. Breaking down the phases individually, then linking them together, has already produced visible progress. Multi-event potential is beginning to emerge among a few underclassmen as well.

Throws
The throws unit has posted breakthrough results already, highlighted by a major personal best from Brady Reusser last weekend — a jump that validates an advanced training plan implemented by Coach Charles. The entire group has benefited from a fall focused on strength and speed development, translating into improved technical execution across the circle. Multiple athletes have already recorded new PRs, with more expected as training load decreases.

Relay Construction and Championship Strategy
This weekend will provide the first real test of the distance medley relay, as the staff experiments with combinations for a group that could score meaningfully at conference. Because teams can enter only one relay, finding the right synergy is crucial.

On the women's side, depth in the 400 and 800 pools should make the 4x400 one of the strongest relays the program has fielded in recent years. The men's 4x4 is still forming, with several candidates in contention to break into a top-four conference finish if they continue progressing.

Health, Load Management & Peaking Approach
Training volume and athlete health remain major focuses. Event coaches evaluate readiness daily, with multiple contingency plans for each training session. If an athlete isn't able to complete the highest-intensity version of a workout, they are still given a plan that keeps them progressing while protecting long-term health. This individualized approach aims to keep hamstrings, shins, and hips healthy as the team builds toward peak performance in late February and May.

Records on the Radar
Several program records appear within reach this season, including the triple jump, women's 60 meters, women's 4x400 relay, men's shot put, men's long jump, and the men's 400 meters. With the combination of youth and momentum surging, the staff believes multiple top-10 marks could fall as early as this month.

Schedule Highlights & Meet Priorities
The schedule provides multiple performance-friendly opportunities. Oshkosh remains the premier regular-season test before conference, offering strong competition and fast facilities. The CCIW Championships will push athletes under heavier competitive loads to maximize team scoring, while the Last Chance meet will give national hopefuls a narrow focus on hitting qualifying marks.
Outdoor season will open with Carroll's home meet — a low-stress opportunity ideal for younger athletes adjusting to new events and conditions. The meet doubles as a senior spotlight and an early checkpoint for progress.

Culture, Academics & the Pioneers' Competitive Edge
Perhaps the greatest strength of this group is what they do away from the track. The team excels at planning ahead, staying on top of academics, and managing personal responsibilities that often derail young athletes. Their stability off the track shows up on meet day in quieter nerves, cleaner execution, and a shared confidence that preparation translates to performance.

Closing Outlook
This weekend marks an important checkpoint — a chance to gauge progress without fully deloading ahead of conference. The Pioneers expect breakthroughs from multiple event groups, and a clearer picture of who will rise into scoring roles. With increased exposure to conference competition and several emerging standouts in events where Carroll has not been competitive in recent years, the program enters the heart of the season with momentum, depth, and belief.