EPHRATA — Tiger track and field returns four individual state qualifiers and a state-placing relay on the boys side and a girls program with depth across events as the Tigers open their 2026 season. The following are projected to be among the program's top contributors.

Boys

Head coach Dan Martin called the boys squad young, but loaded with state experience at the top. The core is built around the 4x400 relay team of seniors Andy Addink, Alex Belino, Cooper Black and Maddax Iverson which placed eighth at the WIAA 2A State Championships last spring.

Addink, a second-team All-Central Washington Athletic Conference sprinter, also ran the open 400 at state and will anchor both the 4x400 and 4x100 relay quartets. Another senior, Hunter Mills, an honorable mention All-CWAC pick, returns in the 100 and 200. Iverson, also an honorable mention All-CWAC selection, returns in the 110 and 300 hurdles after competing at state in the 300. Senior Jacob Reyes, an honorable mention All-CWAC hurdler, runs alongside Iverson in both events.

Black qualified for state in the 800 and will compete in the 800 and 1600 this season. He will be joined in the 1600 by sophomore Caleb Fitts, an honorable mention All-CWAC distance runner who also runs the 3200.

Junior Cooper Kriete, an honorable mention All-CWAC thrower, competes in the shot put and discus. Senior Calvin Lybbert joins him in the shot put and Tyler Kono in the discus.

Carson Andrus runs the 100 and competes in the long jump and high jump. Casey Melcher covers the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump. Jens Bair returns in the pole vault. James Cook and Brice Strickler round out the jumps and throws.

Girls

Senior Delanie Killinger leads the girls program. A first-team All-CWAC jumper and a state qualifier in the triple jump, Killinger will compete in both events again this spring. Evangeline Springs and Bailee Morris will join Killinger in the long jump and triple jump. Springs, Cassidy Cox and Clairissa Johnson will also compete in the high jump.

Tiger distance runners Savannah Harper and Hannah Malone, who both competed in the state cross country meet last fall, take on lead roles in the 3200. The distance group will be without second-team All-CWAC selection Abigail Chamberlain, who placed seventh in the 3200 at state last year but is not expected to run this season.

Senior Jasmine Hernandez, an honorable mention All-CWAC sprinter, runs the 100, 200 and 400 with junior Cynthia Villagran Morales adding depth in the 200 and 400. Senior Bella Wood, an honorable mention All-CWAC selection, runs the 100 hurdles and senior Brinlea Ohl competes in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.

In field events, Ella Schultz handles the pole vault, Lila Buchman the javelin, and Lydia Myrick and Ali Bair join the throwers.

The Tigers open their season at home Tuesday, March 17, hosting the Ephrata Ice Breaker meet at Kiwanis Field. First event is at 3:30 p.m.