The Atlantic Girls Track team will kick off their 2025 season in Ames Friday. The Trojans will be taking the veterans to the IATC Indoor Championships for their first competition of the season. Atlantic will look to continue their run of success this season. Last year, the Trojans qualified for the state tournament in eight categories. Little has changed in the way of expectations in what has been a winning and competing culture. Head coach Matt Mullenix said he has stressed competing as a team in what is normally an individualistic sport.

The Trojans do bring a bit of a younger team to the track this year. However, it is not a group that lacks experience. Despite only having three seniors, Atlantic brings back a strong junior class along with a healthy number of sophomores and freshmen.  Mullenix is already pleased with how the group has come together.

Morgon Botos, Hailey Huffman, and Jersey Phippen are the three members of the strong senior leadership group for the Trojans. Huffman was a part of the team that had a top 20 finish in the 800-meter sprint medley relay a year ago at the state meet. In addition to being on that (800m SMR) team, Botos was also a part of the group that finished third in the 1600m SMR. Botos and her fellow seniors are excited to get their final season underway and reflected on what makes being a part of this team means.

The junior class is likely Atlantic’s strongest group. Lila Wiederstein and Jayci Reed return for their junior campaign. A year ago Reed placed third in the state in the 100-meter hurdles while being a part of two other top 20 finishes (800m SMR & 4x100m). Wiederstein also had an impressive showing at state earning a top 15 finish in the long jump while being a part of the 1600m SMR group. Reed exemplified the feeling of the confidence that the Trojans have in one another.

Another thing shared amongst the athletes and the coaches is their expectations. As Mullenix says, they expect to be in the thick of it come the end of the year.

The Trojans have all the tools and the drive to be successful this season as they look to expand upon their recent run of success.