Dayton Track Team Has New Coach, A Few Great Returners

DAYTON -- The Dayton High School track coach has a small team this year, but he's dreaming big and hoping for two of his athletes to make it to state later this spring.

The team has a new head coach, who has plenty of experience with the athletes. Shawn Magee was the assistant coach last year and stepped up to the plate when he heard the previous head coach Shannon Turner was not returning.

Magee ran track in high school and at Concordia University.

"I just like track and field and I knew they needed some coaching," Magee said.

Dan Nechodom will also help Magee as the junior high coach.

Because the Dayton boys basketball team had such a great season, that means for Magee that he doesn't quite know how many track athletes he will have this season because the basketball season has been so long. While the team had about 20 athletes last year, he currently has 13.

But he has some stars on his roster, that's for sure.

Adam Strohbehn, a senior this year, has a great chance of competing at the state level again this year in the long jump, Magee said. Strohbehn won first place at the district meet last year in Walla Walla, registering a long jump of 19 feet, 1 inch, and went on to jump for 19 feet, 4 inches at state, a personal best for the season.

He places high hopes in Courtney Fuller, who competes in the long jump, 100 meters and 100 meter hurdles, to make it to state this year. Fuller and Strohbehn could also be joined in the top tier by Elise Button who has a lot of potential, Magee said.

To prepare for the first meet coming up in a couple of weeks, Magee said they will be working on "setting down a good foundation."

For the team, this means working on strength and endurance. The jumpers will also be working on their explosiveness. The hardest part is simply getting back into shape for the season. The first few weeks can be very tough on athletes' bodies.

His top goal for the season is simply to get more of his athletes competing at a higher level, he said.

"I'd like to take an additional person to state," Magee said.

He thinks the person who may have the best chance to go to state with Strohbehn is Fuller, if she works hard, he added.

Magee would also like to take more of his athletes to compete at the district tournament, maybe six athletes, which is currently half of his team.