Submitted photo/information Pictured are the 2025 River Valley track and field athletes. Front row (l-r): Ellie Boyd, Peyton Kiecker, Neveah Moore, Arianna Moore, Marisa Frietag, Aubrey Schilling, Millie Lax, Julie McCone, Emmie McCone, Sylvia Hovland, Noelle Reese, Ali Almanza, Miah Rayas, Lydia Dauer, Kylie, Kaelyn Rice, Kaylynn Como. Second row (l-r): Xavier Manderfeld, Brennan Bynes, Xander Bigelow, Andrew Distad, Preston Anderson, Noah Christensen, Phinehas Bislew, Matthew Fernandez, Lucas Hensch, Ari Kryzmarzk, JP Motemeyer, Jax Como, Jony Flores, Jaden Stone, Landon Nordlee. Third row (l-r): Scott Sondag, Josemaria Martinez, Gio Fernandez, Skyla Dauer, Leah Kucera, Brynne Ibberson, Marissa Pabst, Olivia Milbrath, Brynne Hoffbeck, Liana Kimbrough, Faith Bislew, Mya Rice, Grace Sullivan, Ryder Garrioch, William Griffis, Colton Case, Oziel Lozano. Fourth row (l-r): Katie Thram, Abi Kryzmarzk, Greta Seifkes, Frankki Plaetz, Yuridia Fernandez, Kenadi Wersal, Yessenia Fernandez, Yanellie Fernandez, Karina Villareal, Marley Hewitt, Alana Rieke, Emma Bluhm, Ella Arkins, Hazel Dauer, Aliza Griffis. Back row (l-r): Connor Sullivan, Luka Fernandez, Andrew Ramos, Charlie Hoffman, McCoy Marti, Conner Kyllonen, Emmerson Johnson, Eli Hoffman, Aiden Kryzmarzk, Cameron Moore, Issac Lopez, Dylan Augustin, Paytin Johnson, Robert Romberg, Nate Bergquest, Jose Castorena, Kody Bast, Matthew Groebner, Dylan DeWitt.

SLEEPY EYE — After a dominant 2024 season of track and field, the River Valley girls and boys track and field teams are looking to continue leading the pack in a newly combined conference this season.

The Wildcats, a program consisting of Sleepy Eye, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, Springfield and Cedar Mountain, are coached by head coach Heidi McCone and assisted by Kyle Asp, Crystal Dauer, Jenna Tews, April Sullivan and Billy Hewitt.

Their girls team finished as Tomahawk Conference champions last season and were Section 2A champions also and have a host of talented athletes back this season to try to help repeat those results this year.

“They are looking to reclaim those titles and earn a trip to True Team State,” coach McCone said. “Our girls 4×400-meter relay got second place and 4×800 relay got fourth place at state last year. We want to top those times and take more individuals to state this year.”

The boys team finished conference runners-up last season and saw great success in the section tourney also.

“We had a record number of athletes move on from sub-sections to sections,” coach McCone said. “We have one of the toughest sections in the state. Our boys 4×800-meter relay narrowly missed going to state and are looking to make it there this year. They are hoping to make it in the 4×400-meter relay also. There are several individuals that are looking to go to state for the first time.”

Different to the season this year, however, is that while they are still in the same section, the Tomahawk has joined with the Valley Conference to form the Tomahawk-Valley Conference, giving the Wildcats new faces and competition to match up with.

Both the River Valley girls and boys team have already been seeing success this season as they each won their side of the Tomahawk-Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Myers Field House on March 31.

The River Valley girls took first with 178 points, ahead of second-place Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (99), while the boys finished first (113) ahead of Loyola/Cleveland (104). The outdoor championship is scheduled for May 15 in Sleepy Eye.

Coach McCone said there are several top returners to look out for this year, along with may promising new members. Some of the top returners include three senior leaders.

“Some specific athletes to keep an eye on are seniors Marissa Pabst, Matthew Groebner and Noah Christensen in their middle distance, distance runs,” coach McCone said. “They also lead their 4×400-meter and 4×800-meter relays. [Sophomore] Brynne Ibberson and [junior] Katie Thram in the 400-meter and 300-meter hurdles, respectively, along with being a part of the 4×400-meter and 800-meter relays. Freshman Marley Hewitt in the sprints and 4×400-meter relay. Luka Fernandez joined as a senior and shows great potential in many events. All our athletes play a part in making each other better. We always have some athletes that surprise us and themselves with their performances during the season.”

Coach McCone said she expects to see a lot of relay success this season.

“Both our boys and girls 4×400-meter relay and 4×800-meter relay teams are going to do well,” she said. “We are very strong in our running events and growing in out field events.”

Pabst finished the 1,500-meter run at the indoor championships with a first-place time of 5:33.79, while she also helped the girls 4×400 relay team of Lydia Dauer, Skyla Dauer and Marley Hewitt take first (4:37.98). Pabst was also on the winning 4×800 relay team that took first at the indoor conference championships alongside Thram, Ali Almanza and Emmie McCone (10:43.28).

River Valley girls junior Yuridia Fernandez took first in the shot put at the indoor conference championships (30-9), while freshman Liana Kimbrough took first in the high jump (4-8), eighth-grader Lydia Dauer took first in the pole vault (7-0) and sophomore Leah Kucera took first in the triple jump (30-2).

The River Valley boys were led at the indoor conference championships by senior Gianluka Fernandez, who finished first in the 200 (24.9), Christensen, who took first in the 400 (55.32) and sophomore Raul Rodriguez, who took first in the 800 (2:13.05). The boys 4×400 relay team of Groebner, Lucas Hensch, Gianluka Fernandez and Christensen also took first (3:43.18), while the 4×800 team of Christensen, Matthew Fernandez, Dylan Dewitt and Groebner took first (8:47.29).

Among River Valley’s returning senior leaders, Christensen’s outdoor PR time in the 400 came last year with a time of 53.95, while Groebner turned in outdoor PR times in the 400 (55.41), 800 (2:05.47) and 1,600 (4:38.78) last season. Pabst’s outdoor PR in the 1,600 came last season when she ran a 5:39.11. She also had an outdoor PR in the 800 last year with a time of 2:27.07.

Competing in three indoor meets so far this season, River Valley has gotten off to a strong start as the girls finished second at the Wolverine Indoor Meet on March 22 at MSU and first at the Loyola/Cleveland Invite on March 25 before winning the indoor conference championship.

The boys team took third on March 22, tied for second with Loyola/Cleveland on March 25 and second at the indoor conference championships.

That strong indoor success early on has put more fuel on the fire for the Wildcats as they continue their 2025 season.

“The early success in our season makes our athletes hungry for more success,” coach McCone said. “Our athletes are working hard everyday in practice and setting some high goals.”

Note: Look for more spring season prep previews next week in The Journal’s 2025 Spring Sports Preview book, a special insert included in The Journal.