The Highland Huskies have high hopes for a new season of track and field, thanks in part to the return of a defending state champion.

Sarah Burton is coming off a Class 1A title in the long jump, and the Highland senior also won an eighth-place medal in the 100-meter dash in 2023. Burton was also part of 4-by-100 and 4-by-200-meter relay teams that represented the Huskies at state last season, as did returning junior Lilly Barre.

The Highland boys will have back senior Jackson Schneider, who was seventh in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in the 110-meter hurdles. The Huskies are slated to have their first outdoor meet of the track season later today in Columbus Junction.