By RHYS WALTERS

Nathan Hale High School's track team is looking forward to the start of its new season, which begins in March, but it will have a hard time surpassing the achievements of the last one.

This is Howie Kellogg's second year as head coach of the track team, but seventh year at Hale. He was the track team's assistant coach at Hale for five years.

While Hale has had several head coaches for the track team leave after only a year in recent years, Kellogg says he's here to stay.

Last year, the team excelled with seniors Shannon Seidel and Bruce Jackson at the forefront. Seidel took first place in Metro League competition in several categories: triple jump, pole vault, hurdles and high jump. She also took second at the first ever women's decathalon.

Jackson won first place at the 400 meter and 800 meter - the first time anyone has ever won at both events in the 3A division.

However, even with the loss of the seniors, and only two moving up, Kellogg is expecting the coming season to be good.

"We're young," said Kellogg. "We've got some great sophomores."

He hopes a steady coaching staff will also help boost the teams performance and morale.

Athletes have already gone about setting personal goals, such as freshman Sam House, who will attempt to break the school freshman record in discus. There are nine team captains this year, including Senior BJ Begelman, running the 800 meter and 1,500 meter, Sophomore Olivia Garrow running the 1,500 meter, and Senior Andre Vaise, a thrower.

Hale's first track meet will be on March 14, where it will compete against teams from Ballard, Roosevelt, Ingraham and Lakeside high schools.