It’s 60 degrees in late February at Solon High School and the sky is a brilliant blue. Afternoon sun beats down on the charcoal black track, as dozens of fresh cleats dig into the synthetic rubber: Nikes, Brooks, Hokas, New Balances, and Asics, unveiled for the start of the new season.

Three at a time, runners practice sprints while getting feedback on the way they leave the blocks. Some of them are jumping up. They should be jumping out. That’s the difference between winning and losing a state title.

“Be cocky. Think you’re going to win. A lot of track and field is attitude,” they’re told.

The expectation in Solon is that this year is going to be better than the last.

In 2025, the Spartans placed 37th at the state meet, sending two individuals and one relay team to the tournament. Eli Kampman finished 18th in the 200 meter dash, Kaden Hoeper tied for 6th in the high jump, and the 4×800 relay team came in 19th.

“Make it with more of my teammates this time,” Kampman said of his goals for this season. “Last year it was just me and the hotel room wasn’t as fun.”

Kampman, Hoeper, and the entire relay team are all back this year, and each of their results at state put them within striking distance of breaking Solon’s school records. Beyond the returners, the Spartans have other faces ready to fill the openings left by last year’s seniors as well.

“We weren’t as successful as we wanted to be at certain meets last year, especially the big meets. But the closeness that they had, and the focus they had on what their goals were, never changed,” head coach Mark Sovers said.

Everyone on the team has a goal to chase. Some are quantitative, some are abstract.

After chopping over 90 seconds off their 4×800 time last season, Spencer Michels and Owen Young want to break the school record this year. They set their personal best of an 8:21.80 at the state tournament. Distance runner Deacon Waddell wants to build up his speed. On the field side, shot putter Dylan Branscomb is looking for a return to form.

“I went through a shoulder injury this last year throughout wrestling,” he said. “I really just want to break 50 [feet] because I was so close last year.”

Last season, Solon won two of their twelve meets. They hosted and won the Denny Gruber relays on April 22nd, and spoiled North Cedar’s senior night a week later. They also placed third at Assumption.

The key to improving this year is running what Sovers calls “complementary track.”

“The tone setter has always been the field events for us. Getting off to a great start and just riding that wave throughout the meet,” he said.

When Solon was able to do that last season, it led to some of their best results.

Solon competes in the WaMaC conference, one of the most competitive in Iowa. Rivals Clear Creek Amana and Center Point-Urbana placed 3rd and 6th respectively at the state meet last summer. Benton placed 12th. That’s why the minute details matter.

In the pre-practice meeting, Sovers preached the idea of confidence versus conviction to his athletes. Conviction is what they’ve been building throughout the winter, fostered by 6:40 AM weightroom lifts and independent workout programs.

“I think we have all the potential this year, and we just need to capitalize on it,” Branscomb said.

It’s still early in the season. Dual sport athletes like Hoeper are still involved with basketball. The weather only recently became good enough for the team to begin outdoor practices again, and they can count the amount of them on one hand.

But already, there’s a heightened sense of belief in Solon.

“This is probably gonna be one of the better teams we’ve ever had,” assistant coach Pat Parysz said after practice Friday, March 27th.

“We’re super excited about this year and seeing where this team can go by the end,” Sovers said.

Solon begins their season on Monday, March 9th with the A.D. Dickinson Relays at the UNI-Dome.

Upcoming events
Monday, March 9 – Boys A.D. Dickinson Relays, 2:00 p.m., UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls
Thursday, March 12 – 2026 IATC Indoor Championships, 9:00 a.m., ISU Lied Rec. Center, Ames
Tuesday, March 24 – WaMaC Indoor Meet, 2:00 p.m., Grinnell College Fieldhouse
Saturday, March 28 – IC West Hollingsworth Relays, 10:30 a.m.