Unlike most first-year head coaches, Wright City’s Billy Garrett will have plenty of familiar faces around to help him transition from assistant to head coach this spring.

“It’s pretty similar because we still have (former Head Coach) Sue (Wright) and (current assistant) Fred (Ross) helping out, and we’ve been working together for a few years now,” Garrett said.

He will also have plenty of talent on the track as well.

The Wright City girls will be led by the 400-meter relay team of Mercedes Wray, Emajahani Hunter, Kia Campbell and Danielle Dyer.

The quartet qualified for the Class 3 meet in Jefferson City last season and currently hold the Wright City school record in the event.

“It’s exciting to have that crew back,” Garrett said. “We expect them to be really strong, but it’s really tough to guess in a race like that because if you have one bad handoff or one bad takeoff out of the blocks, it’s all gone. We’re looking to keep getting better throughout the season in that race and be ready to go in those final two races of the year.”

Dyer is also expected to race in the 200.

“She should be really strong in the 200, as long as she stays healthy,” Garrett said. “That race really plays to her strengths, so we’re excited about what she can do there.”

Kailyn Gudermuth returns in the javelin, where she finished on the podium at the state meet a season ago.

“Having her back after going to state will be great for our team as well,” Garrett said.

The majority of the 3,200 relay team also returns.

Former standout Erin Tomschin graduated last spring, but senior Zoe Pezold, junior Maryanna Hale and sophomore Ashley Lawson are expected to be back in the hunt for a state berth this season.

“Last year was a really solid race at sectionals in the 4X8,” Garrett said, “but we’re expecting big things from them this year after returning three of those runners.”

The Wildcats opened their season Tuesday at the Montgomery County Warm-up, and host the Wright City Warm-up meet Thursday afternoon.

“We have a really good team coming back,” Garrett said. “Just about every underclassman we had last year is back, so we have a pretty solid core returning.”