While track is primarily an individual endeavor it has important team components as well. That makes Kansas Wesleyan coach Kyle Hiser's task simultaneously more difficult and enjoyable.
"We're going to have pretty much every event area covered as long as we stay healthy and we keep doing the things that we need to do as we go into season," Hiser said of the upcoming outdoor season. "That's what makes my job fun and makes it fun for the viewers out there that come to watch us."
KWU's roster numbers have steadily increased during Hiser's five years at the helm and 2025 will be the biggest yet.
"You can't turn your head from the track, from the throws ring, and not see someone in our uniform out there competing which is always very fun," he said. "Makes it feel like a true team sport."
The Coyotes open the season with two competitions this weekend. Distance runners will travel to Leavenworth on Friday for the Spire Challenge. Everyone else will be in North Newton on Saturday for the Bethel Invitational.
The schedule is highlighted by two events at JRI Hospitality Stadium and Graves Family Sports Complex and the throwing events venue on Coronado Avenue just off Broadway: the Coyote Challenge on April 18-19 and the Kansas Conference Championships on May 1-2.
MEN'S TEAM
KWU enters the spring season on a roll after winning the program's first KCAC indoor title.
Six Coyotes who qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships last season return led by three-quarters of the men's 4x800-meter relay team - Julian Avila, Ty Davidson and Wyatt Johnson - and will be joined by Triston Cottone. The quartet earned Indoor All-America honors with a fourth-place finish last month in Gainesville, Florida.
"Just trying to continue the legacy by getting that team to nationals and making them All-American each year," Hiser said.
Avila had wildly successful cross country and indoor track seasons and will focus on the 1,500 meters in the spring.
"I think this outdoor year could be one of the toughest ever in the NAIA and it's going to be a lot of fun to see how he steps up to the competition as we go through the spring," Hiser said. "The good news is he has people in the conference that are going to push him. Saint Mary has some guys that were really strong. When you get to toe the line against people that are All-American and pushing you every single weekend it makes you have to step up your game a little bit and be better."
Keegan Lott qualified for NAIA outdoors in the discus a year ago and competed at indoor nationals in the shot put.
"Hopefully we can double up on two events in the shot and in the discus as we go into outdoor season," Hiser said.
Damion Jackson was an indoor All-American in the 3,000 meters and will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters this spring.
"He had a strong cross country season and indoors really caught fire towards the end of the conference year," Hiser said. "I think his confidence should be sky high as we move to outdoor season and hopefully, we see him building off that strong indoor campaign."
Brenden Ellis competed in the NAIA steeplechase in 2024 and is part of a strong Coyote group in the event in '25.
"Coach (Garrett) Young has the biggest steeplechase crew in the conference, and we think they're going to be extremely strong," Hiser said. "Ian Doss is a returning scorer for us in that event and Brenden Ellis is one of the more talented buys on the team. We added some freshmen that are going to take some steps forward."
Zamari Burrell will lead the sprinters and run the 100 and 200 meters. Freshmen Kean Dinkel and Cayden Purcell will compete in relays and Purcell in hurdles.
WOMEN'S TEAM
Madisyn Ehrlich returns after qualifying for outdoor nationals in 1,500 meters a year ago. She also ran a leg on the 4x800-meter relay team along with Josie Koppes, Hailey Nordhus and Kirstin Hackney that won the KCAC indoor title in a school-record time and placed ninth in the national meet.
Nordhus will run the 400 and 800 meters races this spring.
Hiser has numerous options for the relay events with Joni Schroeder, Julie Rottinghaus, Lauryn Mikkelson, Kierra Jensen, Brionna Floyd and Dahn Hanlon having experience as well as those who competed in the 4x800 this winter.
Floyd earned All-KCAC honors in the 400 meters a year ago and Mikkelson will be in the 400-meter hurdles after qualifying for state multiple times at Sacred Heart High School. Rottinghaus will run sprints and compete in the triple and long jumps.
Like the men the steeplechase appears to be a strength. Jensen will compete in the event along with Schroeder and returner Allyson Taylor.
"The steeplechase is going to be strong," Hiser said.
Madelyn Wolf and Mayce Russell will throw the javelin. Both have thrown more than 140 feet, and their PRs (personal records) would rank them in the top eight nationally, according to Hiser.
"Clay Herdman, our volunteer javelin coach, has done a great job with them," Hiser said. "With how they throw they're going to be people you should have your eyes on every single week because they're so talented and they work so hard.