Grain Valley boys track prepares for 2022 season after departure of 17 seniors

by Michael Smith

     The Grain Valley boys track and field team is coming off a successful season in which it won the Suburban White Conference team title.
     The Eagles also had three all-state finishes at last year’s Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships, including the 4x200 relay team.
     This season, head coach Erik Stone hopes to replicate similar success with a bunch of new faces as Grain Valley graduated 17 seniors from the 2021 squad.
     “We have a little bit of a younger team than last year,” Stone said. “We have a lot of sophomores and juniors that can help us. We don’t have quite as many seniors.”
     The Eagles are led by senior Logan Pratt, who was a part of the 4x200 relay team that took third place last season at state and he was also fourth in the 100-yard dash.
     He is coming off a slight fracture injury to his left leg during football season and feels healthy and ready to go for the upcoming season.
     “I did physical therapy and all that and I am fully rehabbed,” Pratt said. “I am feeling good. It feels like it didn’t even happen.”
     Stone said he is confident that Pratt can do big things during the 2022 season.
     “He’s really hungry to get even better,” Stone said. “He wants to get himself in a better position to help our team and to prepare for college and get better times.”
     And that desire has led to Pratt making some big goals for himself.
     “My goal is to break the school record (in the 100-yard dash),” Pratt said. “I am tied right now with Mason Rogers. After that my goal is to win state in the 100. I also want to break the school record in the 200 and win state in that, too.”
     Grain Valley could also see big things from senior Tristan Pouncil, who was on the 4x100 relay team that qualified for state last season. He is also trying out some new events such as the high jump. He will also be in the 4x200 relay and the 100- and 200-meter dash.
     “This year, I am just jumping to jump be honest,” Pouncil said of the high jump. “I am trying to get 6 feet or maybe higher. I want to break the 4x100 record and go back to state.”
     Stone said Pouncil has what it takes to be successful in his events.
     “Tristan is very explosive,” Stone said. “He’s a hard worker. In the weight room, whenever we do a broad jump or vertical jump, he sets our school record in the vertical jump. He jumped 39 ½ inches I believe. He can also squat a lot of weight. He’s a strong kid.”
     Stone said he’s still figuring out which of his athletes to put into open spots on his relays in other events. He still has some other returners that should have spots on the team.
     Mason McCain and Rylan Smith return as all-conference distance runners; Keegan Hart comes back as a returning state qualifier in the 4x400 relay; and junior Nathan Allen returns as an all-conference relay runner.
     Some other returning athletes from last season’s team include juniors Kendall Butler, Dom Korycki, Christian Lanear, Jacob Thurman and senior Owen Perkins.
     Some newcomers to look for are seniors Jonathan Tipton and Jordan Jones along with juniors Jace Weems and Carson Hill.
 
     Grain Valley’s first meet will be on March 22 at Platte County.