For the second year in a row, the Wright City track and field team has one of its largest rosters ever.

The Wildcats expect to have more than 60 kids on the team this year, which is giving coaches Sue Wright and Fred Ross flexibility while they figure out their lineups.

“I’m always excited about big numbers,” Wright said. “You have to be a different type of person that wants to just come out here and run, so you’re always going to get kids that want to come out here and work. We have a lot of new kids and a lot of young kids, so that’s exciting. We have five J.V. meets this year, so I’m excited about that.”

Senior Erin Tomschin returns after qualifying for the Class 3 state meet last year.

Tomschin ran in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races in Jefferson City as a junior, and is expected to return in May.

“She has already signed, so she’s got that out of the way and she knows what she needs to focus on now,” Wright said. “She has such a great work ethic, which is awesome.”

The boys 3,200 relay team, which won the Class 3, District 3 race last season and missed out on a state appearance by one spot, returns three of its four runners.

Jake Mueller, Stephon Norwood and Brice Reash are all back for the Wildcats, and Wright is looking for the fourth runner.

“We lost Nick but we brought in Gavin Waters, and I think he’ll do fine when he gets in shape,” she said. “There are a couple of kids who can fit in at that distance.”

Senior Sean McDonald also returns after qualifying for sectionals in the 110-meter hurdles, and Wright hopes he can lead a successful group of boys sprinters.

“Senior Brandon Adams is going to do really well in the sprint events,” she said. “And he could possibly help out in the pole vault, as well.

Senior Amy Janowski will lead the girls pole vault.

Janowski qualified for sectionals last year, finishing seventh.

Danielle Dyer and Kia Campbell will look to qualify for sectionals in the 100.

Dyer qualified for the finals in last year’s district meet, finishing in 13.24 seconds.

“I think our sprint girls are going to be OK this year,” Wright said. “We lost Janee (Hill), but we picked up a few girls that could fit in there really well. You always hope that you can plug somebody in, and I think we can do that.”

Kyle Christopher, who finished fourth at state last year in the discus, graduated but coaches hope he passed his knowledge onto Donnie Grueneberg.

Grueneberg finished 10th in the district shot put last year as a freshman.

“Our throwers are looking good,” Wright said. “Donnie is back, and having Kyle help him out last year will really help him.”

The Wildcats start their season Tuesday at North Callaway.

“Right now we’re just getting in shape and figuring what we have, but it will be great when we can get kids in their groups and just go,” Wright said. “It will be great when we can just put Jake and Erin with the distance kids and put them where they need to go, and put the 400 kids where they need to go, and things like that. It will be much easier. The nucleus of this group is great. I couldn’t wait until track started this year because we have a great group.”