Experience galore

They aren’t “loud” leaders by any stretch of the imagination, but they are leaders nonetheless.  And for that, New Hampton girls track coach Jeanette Laures is grateful.  “We have a lot of girls who aren’t going to get in your face,” Laures said, “but they lead by example instead. They put in the work on and off the track. They understand that to achieve what they want to achieve they have to work hard.”  New Hampton welcomes back 17 letterwinners from a team that found plenty of success in 2016, when the Chickasaws took second in the Northeast Iowa   Conference meet and qualified six events for the Class 2A state track meet.  Laures is diehard believer in the fact that 400 and 800 runners are the heart of any track team, and the Chickasaws are blessed with plenty of both.  “I think one of the big differences this year is that we really have the long-distance runners to field a full lineup,” she said. “But you build your team with 800s and 400s, and we have a lot of depth there.”  For the full story, please see the March 28 Tribune.