The Lone Tree Lions have another track and field season off and running, with an indoor competition already under their belt. There is excitement about the new season for Lone Tree, especially for a girls’ team that brings back five athletes who competed for the Lions at last year’s Class 1A state championships.

That group includes junior Rylee Shield, who qualified for state in the 200-meter dash last season and ran on three relay teams that not only qualified for state but also won medals in Des Moines.

The Lone Tree girls will be eyeing state repeats and perhaps more in the 4-by-100-meters, as well as the 4-by-200 and the sprint medley. Also part of those relay teams was Ava Christofferson, who is back for her sophomore season and will also be looking to follow up making state in the 100 meters.

Junior Vivian Zaruba is another medal-winning relay runner who has an individual state qualification under her belt after making the 1A meet in the 800, while sophomore Sophie Bell and junior Avery Morarie are also back after being on state-bound relay squads.

The Lion boys also have members of a state-qualifying relay team back in the 4-by-200. Senior Ethan Bockelman and sophomore Emmett Burke will be leaders of the pack for Lone Tree, which has already competed at the Dickinson Relays in Cedar Falls and will next compete at Columbus this coming Monday.