A group of athletes known for accomplishments in other sports had a solid start to the track and field season on Monday.

Regardless of the event, each found a way to make an impact at the Fuller Invitational indoor meet at the Barnett Center.

Sophia Knittel, a standout wrestler from Ipswich, won the 55-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the long jump.

The eighth-grader won the 200 running in the outside lane, preventing her from knowing where the rest of the field was at.

“It was a lot harder than usual,” Knittel said, “especially because I’m used to being in one of the faster lanes, so it was different.”

She said she used the crowd noise to assist her while she was running.

“I was just going off of people cheering, just basing it off of that,” Knittel said.

Knittel, who runs the 100-meter dash outdoor, said the 55 dash also presented a challenge.

“It was kind of hard, because I’m used to having more time to speed up,” she said.

Knittel said wrestling helps her with conditioning and footwork.

When asked which sport she liked better wrestling or track and field, Knittel paused, and said, “That’s a really hard question. They both mean a lot to me.”

Warner’s Jesiah Baum is a standout football and basketball player for Warner. The junior uses track and field to help enhance those sports.

“Track is my worker. I use it to get better for the sports I do, make me a better athlete in general,” Baum said, “and just get faster and stronger, it’s easier to lift weights with it, too.”

The junior finished second in the 200-meter dash, despite running in the first lane, having to chase down the rest of the field.

“You see all those guys in front of you, you just have to use that like alright go catch them,” Baum said, “and so that’s where I’m at with it.”

Ipswich’s Kyle Hettich, a key member of the school’s football and basketball teams, also won three events on the day. He won the 55-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the long jump.

Hettich, who runs the 100 dash outdoors, talked about the comparison between the 55 and 100.

“The 100 is a lot different,” Hettich said, “less about getting out of the blocks, more about maintaining speed.”

Interestingly enough, it was Hettich’s first foray into the long jump and he ended up winning the event despite scratching on what would have been his best attempt.

“This is my first time trying long jump,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m going to do it outdoors.”

Obviously, the junior is still learning about that event.

“Not reaching for the board, probably the biggest challenge there is,” Hettich said.

Warner’s Kenna Wolberg won the 800-meter run and finished second in the 1,600-meter run to Ipswich’s Madisyn Gellhaus.

Wolberg talked about her race strategy.

“With the mile I just go out as hard as I can, keep it up,” said the freshman. “Really, it’s just a mindset that you can keep going, and you know you can go that pace the whole time.”

Gellhaus finished second at state in the 3,200 last season, with Wolberg taking third.

“I really just go out and try to run my own race,” Wolberg said. “She’s a great runner. I do like running with her, but sometimes I just can’t keep up.”

Gellhaus said running indoors is much different than competing outdoors.

“Indoor it may feel faster, but it really isn’t and then the air inside is way drier than it would be outside,” Gellhaus said. “So in the middle of the race your throat really starts hurting from all that dry air you’re inhaling. Most of the time after my races, it feels like my throat’s bleeding.”

The junior is taking a special interest in Ipswich’s younger runners this spring and helping to mentor them.

“I honestly take great, great pride in it,” Gellhaus said. “These girls are going to be the future of the team after I leave next year, so getting them ready, getting them in that mindset so when they’re in my position … taking care of those young girls is really important to me.”

To see complete results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/571578/results