NTL TRACK & FIELD: NEB HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2026 (March 22, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
After saying good-bye to a strong senior class last year NEB track and field will be looking for new faces to lead them into 2026. Regardless of the turnover, though, coach Sandy Morris is excited for the season.

“I love track,” she said. “The kids work hard, and it’s just such a fun season because of so many different events, and so many different things to kind of take your attention.”

On the boys’ side they’ll be looking for Jackson Martin to do some big things in the distance vents.

“He was strong in cross-country, he was strong last year,” explained Morris. “Last year was his first year on the track, so you have to learn track technique. I think Jackson is really going to step up.”

She also expects Tyler Kuhn, newcomer Eli Stanton, and Dan Barrett to standout in the shorter distances.

“It’s been a while so I’m excited to get back out there,” Barrett said. 

He’s going to be doing the long jump, triple jump, 400, and 4x400. The long and lanky Barrett looks ready made for the jumping events.

“I’m just working on my leg movements, and my arm swings,” he said. “Just making sure I’m getting a good landing, and just focusing on power, and trying to get up.”

He’s hoping to get over 19-feet in the long, and over 40-feet in the triple. The junior is also bullish for the quarter-mile.

“I have put a lot of work in, but I think it’s possible to make districts for that,” remarked Barrett.

The Panthers have had a solid 4x800 over the past couple of seasons, but this year it’ll be made up of new faces.

“We are working on putting together a team that could tackle that goal,” Morris said. “It might be a stretch for us this year, but I think they should certainly hit the district mark.”

The girls roster is a little thinner this year, but they have some talent there, too.

“Sophie Bennett is an excellent runner,” remarked Morris. “I think Anyely (Reyes-Fajardo) is going to really kind of step up in there, and we’ll see what other girls really learn how to push themselves a little bit more.”

Bennett is going to focusing on the distance trio - 800, 1600, and 3200 - which creates an eclectic mix of training.

“We do workouts, we do short distances, and we also do some longer fast runs,” Bennett said. “It’s just a lot of mix in between.”

Her goal this year is hit some new PRs, including a sub-6 minute mile, along with getting together a 4x800 relay.

“We’re definitely lacking in the numbers this year for the girls distance, but I think we can make up for it,” said Bennett.

ROSTER
Braden Allis
Chesney Avdevich
Daniel Barrett
Beth Bartlett
Leah Beebe
Myles Bennett
Sophie Bennett
Steve Berger
Landon Chapman
Maggie Chappell
Sophia Davenport
Levi Dewing
Charlie Eastman
Ed Eastman
Anyely Reyes-Fajardo
Tucker Hughes
Julia Keeney
Allie Kuhn
Tyler Kuhn
Riley Samson
Naiver Lockwood
Noah Marino
Jackson Martin
Eli Mihalek
Eliot Murray
Anthony Pousen
Delsi Ramirez-Sanchez
Maddex Rooker
Keegan Slater
Eli Stanton
Malachi Taylor
Emma Warren
Ayden Wilson
Audrey Worthington

SCHEDULE
Mar 24 at Wyalusing, NPM, 4 p.m.
Mar 31 at Sayre, Athens, 4 p.m.
April 2 at Kirby Classic
April 7 at Williamson, Troy, 4 p.m.
April 10 at Northwest Invitational
April 14 at Canton, Williamson, NPM, 4 p.m.
April 18 at Square Deal Invitational
April 21 at Athens, Troy, Williamson, 4 p.m.
April 24 at Lasagna Invitational
April 28 at Towanda, NPM, Troy, 4 p.m.
May 8 at NTL Championships (Athens)
May 14 & 16 at District IV Championships (Milton)



Print Friendly Version