The air at the March 11 practice was undeniably brisk—the kind of sharp, early-spring chill that bites no matter how many layers an athlete wears. But for Coach Ashley Swanson and her St. Clair/Immanuel Lutheran co-op track and field team, the cold is just another element to master. As Swanson shivered alongside her athletes, the atmosphere remained electric, fueled by a transformative off-season and a historic return to potential home field advantage at meets.
After more than a decade of traveling for every competition, the Cyclones are finally coming home. Thanks to a $700,000 project funded in part by a FEMA grant, the new St. Clair track and field facility is complete. The renovation, overseen by Fisher Track, features a specialized dual-layer coating, new runways for jumping events and pole vault, updated throwing areas, and modern timekeeping infrastructure.
For a program that hasn’t hosted a home meet since 2012, the 2026 season represents a turning point. “With new spaces and uniforms to call their own, St. Clair Track & Field has the means and the talent to break new ground,” says Coach Swanson.
The 2026 season isn’t just about a new facility or even snazzy bright-white uniforms for the athletes; it’s about building on the momentum of a record-breaking 2025.
Last year, St. Clair Track & Field sent five athletes to the State tournament—the most under Swanson’s tenure. In addition to sending four athletes to State, the Lady Cyclones swept the South Central Conference, Sub-Section, and Section Champions. Valerie Quast, Kate Daly, Brooklin Hinze, and Janessa Carstensen were standouts all season with numerous first-place finishes and several record-breaking performances in their respective events. While the Cyclone Boys weren’t as collectively dominant as their lady counterparts, Wyatt Lien returned as a State qualifier in the 400M—the first under Swanson and for the program in several years.
This year, the goals are even loftier for this team:
- Oliver Schull is targeting the school records in the 100m and 200m dashes.
- Valerie Quast is aiming to shatter the 800m record.
- Kate Daly, a returning State qualifier, looks to defend her High Jump record while chasing her sister’s—Paige—school record in the Pole Vault.
- Archer Richter returns to the pole vault pits after missing two seasons due to injury.
- Wyatt Lien looks to build on his State-qualifying performance from a year ago.
The program’s growth is reflected in its roster. While the ladies’ team continues its trend of high participation with 49 competitors, the men’s side has surged to 30 athletes—an impressive turnout that provides the depth needed to compete in a wider variety of events. “I have a larger group of girls this season, which provides me more wiggle room to fill in gaps,” Swanson noted. “The boys’ team is still smaller, but I’ve gained some very talented ninth graders. I’m excited to build some solid relays with them.”
Athletic ability and grit was on full display during the March 11 practice which focused on resistance training and explosive form. At a nearby sloped hill by the local Catholic church, athletes paired off for a grueling endurance test: one athlete sprinting uphill while being held back by a teammate with a resistance band. The drill is meant to simulate strong wind conditions that can severely affect a sprinter’s momentum and pace; these early spring meets can bring all manner of weather-related obstacles, so training under certain conditions will hone an athlete’s focus on running techniques, breath control, and stability.
Garrett Mills and Oliver Schull attacked the drill with enthusiasm, focusing on the high knees and tight arm movements necessary to overcome the drag. The women’s squad followed suit, with Brooklin Hinze, Lila Quast, Janessa Carstensen, and others battling the incline. To eliminate downtime, athletes transitioned immediately into 30-second “curb sprints,” alternating front steps and sidesteps to keep the heart rate elevated.
After about a half hour of the drill, the Cyclones ran the same drill without the resistance bands—the results were stunning as sprinters like Hinze and Schull accelerated like steeds no longer bogged down, ready to cross the finish line first. “Without the bands [after the drill], the athletes are more aware of their form,” Swanson observed. “It reduces resistance and makes them much faster and more efficient.”
With a core that includes the Quast sisters, Daly, and Lien, the Cyclones are no longer just participants in the South Central Conference—they are frontrunners.
As the athletes packed up their gear in the fading March light, the “barren spaces” of the previous summer’s construction site had been replaced by a state-of-the-art arena. The Cyclones have a place to call home; now, they intend to make it a place where records are broken.
