FAYETTEVILLE — As usual, Kate Bucknam had distanced herself from the rest of the pack as she made a turn around Harmon Field last week.
Granted, Fayetteville’s track and field teams were simply running a few laps to warm up before the start of practice.
But that was good enough for Bucknam, who was sidelined for nearly a month after having surgery in December to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee.
Now the senior distance runner can get back to helping the Lady Bulldogs attempt to repeat as state champions during the outdoor track season.
“I still have to be held back a little bit,” Bucknam said. “I can’t do too much and jump into it too quick, so that’s been kind of rough.But it’s for my own good.”
It’s also in the best interest of the Lady Bulldogs as they prepare for the Joe Martin Relays in Springdale on March 10, the fi rst meet of the outdoor season.
Fayetteville is again considered a female track powerhouse thanks to the return of Bucknam and star Sydney Conley, who set Arkansas records in the 60-meter dash (7.6 seconds) and the long jump (19 feet) earlier this month at the Class 5A-7A Indoor Meet.
“Our goals were set high at the very beginning to winstate, but with ... the talent there is here you got to stay focused,” Fayetteville coach Drew Yoakum said. “And keeping those girls focused and wanting to do as (good) as they can is a key job.”
Like Conley, much of Fayetteville’s success on the boys side will depend on an upperclassmen who has also been busy playing basketball for the school.
With his 6-foot-6 frame, senior Stephen Soerens gives the Bulldogs a versatile athlete who could compete in all the jumping events as well as the hurdles, the shot put and the discus throw during the outdoor season.
Soerens can seemingly do it all, including poweringthe Bulldogs to an indoor state championship last year and a runner-up fi nish in outdoors.
“The big key is Stephen Soerens,” Yoakum said. “Stephen is what we’re trying to pattern our team after, and he’s got to be our leader to lead us in each meet.”
Depth remains a concern for both of Fayetteville’s track teams.
But senior Colby Jordan returns as a sprinter, and junior Tevin Whitney has the potential to break out even more than he did a year ago when injuries hampered him at times.
“It’s kind of funny how both of them are very similar this year,” Yoakum said. “We’ve got a lot of returners from last year on both sides, boys and girls.”
Bucknam included.
Sports, Pages 9 on 02/27/2011