As the spring sports season approaches, the Mehlville Panthers boys track and field team is gearing up for what promises to be a competitive and exciting year. 

Head coach Mark McNamara is excited about the upcoming season and the positive attitudes he has seen early in practice.

“This year, the team has shown a much higher level of commitment to improving,” McNamara said. “They’re not just training hard individually, but are also lifting each other up and competing against one another to raise the standard.”

Several standout athletes from last season are back and expected to lead the team. Among them is senior Andrew Kaletka, who qualified for sectionals in both the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. He will be a key competitor in those events once again.

Other strong returners include senior Fred Canady in the high jump, junior Francisco Becerra in the triple jump and senior Dominic Ramos, who competes in the 400 and 800 meter races. Additionally, junior Alen Hasanovic will provide a solid presence in the throwing events, including shot put, discus and javelin.

McNamara also mentioned senior Adem Nasufovic, a newcomer to the squad this season, who is expected to contribute in the sprinting events, bringing additional depth to the team’s roster.

McNamara feels that his team’s strengths will be in the relays, specifically the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400-meter relays. With returning talent and fresh faces, these events are expected to be some of the strongest for the team. The hurdles, particularly with Kaletka leading the way, will also be a potentially strong area for Mehlville.

“It’s crucial that the boys buy into the conditioning process and not just rely on their natural ability,” McNamara said. “By training hard and pushing through the mental barriers, they’ll be in a strong position when the season really picks up.”

The team will officially kick off their season on March 28 at North Point in Wentzville. The meet is expected to feature twelve schools, providing a great opportunity for the Panthers to test their early-season form against other competition.