Westonka Track & Field Kicks Off 2026 Season

The Westonka track and field team kicked off the 2026 season with a trio of meets, culminating in the Orono Spartan Invitational on April 16. Athletes from nine high schools across Minnesota gathered to compete on a pleasant spring day.

Reflecting on the meet, coach Wendy Richardson said, “We had beautiful weather in Orono, and all the Westonka athletes worked incredibly hard, even with this being their second meet of the week. Many White Hawks went home with new personal bests this week!”

The Westonka girls celebrated two first-place finishes: senior Erica Johnson in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 34 feet, 8.25 inches, and junior Jillian Schmitz in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 9-0, tying the school record. The 4x400-meter relay team of Hadley Hoag, Ava Daum, Erika Johnson and Morgan Johnson placed second with with a season-best time of 4:18.65.

The White Hawks also saw top-eight performances from junior Sami Christensen (third, triple jump), senior Morgan Johnson (third, 300-meter hurdles; seventh, 100-meter hurdles), junior Sophia Engesser (sixth, 3,200 meters), senior Lexie Rehman (sixth, high jump), junior Anna Regenold (seventh, 1,600 meters; eighth, 800 meters), and senior Delaney Parker (seventh, shot put)

The Westonka boys were led by two second-place finishes: senior Andrew Hoisington in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 48-7, and the 4x800-meter relay team of Drew Carlson, Rayne Shaffer, Robbie Chilson and Levi Hays with a season-best time of 8:49.97.

The White Hawks’ depth was on display with with a flurry of top-eight finishes: senior Mason Merritt (fifth, 110-meter hurdles; eighth, 300-meter hurdles), junior Jullian Herkelman (fourth, triple jump; eighth, long jump), Hoisington (fifth, discus), sophomore Sam Trombley (sixth, high jump), sophomore Rayne Shaffer (seventh, 800 meters), freshman Samuel Santiago (seventh, 200 meters), sophomore Robbie Chilson (seventh, 3,200 meters), freshman Andrew Regenold (seventh, shot put) and freshman Davis Banks (seventh, triple jump). The boys also added two fourth-place relay finishes: the 4x200-meter team of Santiago, G. Thelen, W. Stepanek and D. Sewell, and the 4x400-meter team of Merritt, G. Thelen, D. Sewell and Herkelman.

Head coaches Wendy Richardson and Sara Schwartz beamed about the resiliency of their team:

“The team has been incredibly flexible and positive with our crazy season so far as our new home track is officially underway! We are spending a bit more time away from Westonka on neighboring tracks and finding other ways to build strength and endurance when we are not on one! We as coaches are so grateful for this awesome team and look forward to the rest of a wonderful season!”

The White Hawks will compete next in conference meets at Delano and Jordan as they continue deeper into the season.