22 | Saturday, April 4, 2026 Elk River Star News
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Elk River, MN 55330.
Elks track and field ready in pursuit of excellence
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
Spring Sports Preview 2026
The Elk River boys and girls track and field teams begin the 2026 season in pursuit of state tournament appearances.
Girls head coach: Russ Gnan
Boys head coach: Brian Gilbertson
Key returning athletes( girls): Junior Shiaflyn Cooper is a two-time defending champion in the triple jump. She also placed in the long jump at state in 2025. Senior Sydney Keckeisen has been a core sprinter for the Elks the last several seasons. Senior Joanna Talso is a hurdler. Junior Tatiana Parker is a high-jumper and a sprinter.
Key returning athletes( boys): Senior co-captain and thrower Simon Bicek is a two-time state competitor. Junior Jackson Carlson is a talented distance runner. Sophomore Carter Cook is a thrower and a jumper.
Coach Gnan’ s expectations for 2026:“ We’ re a little bit smaller than normal population wise. We’ ve got a core group of upperclassmen... to be determined on our younger group on how well they are. Hopefully, we get some pleasant surprises out there. Obviously, Shiaflyn is as close to a lock as you can be to make it to the state tournament. Generally, she
hits the state standard even before we get to that time of the year. Keckeisen made it last year in the 400. That’ s a big goal for her again this year. We’ re hoping that Tatiana can be in that mix for high jump and make it this year.”
Coach Gilbertson’ s expectations for 2026:“ We are hoping to get some people to state again and try and get a good team score similar to last year. We’ re at 4x100 and 4x200 [ relays ] to get to the state meet. We’ re hoping to get some individuals in the sprints, the throws and the jumps. We should be in the upper half of the conference, [ but ] we don’ t have the depth to win it all. We’ ve got a lot of new faces. We’ ve got a large team, just over 100.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Elk River boys track and field team finished third at the Class 3A state tournament on June 12, 2025, at STMA High School.
A lot of those new people are going to step in and contribute at a high level.
It’ s too early to tell how good they will be at this point, but we’ ve got a lot of
talent.”
Thunder boys track and field looking forward to exciting season
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
Spring Sports Preview 2026
The Thunder boys track and field team will have over 60 student-athletes run for the team this season. In 2025, Zimmerman placed fifth in Section 5-2A
Head coach: Lynda Bouley
Key returning athletes: The 2026 Zimmerman senior captains are Owen Lester, Mason Spence, Grady Wendt and Nolan Wegner. Spence finished sixth in the 100- meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter dash at last year’ s state meet. Juniors
Joe Larson, Jameson Smuda and senior Jestin Glidden, made the state tournament.
Key departures: Corbin Vaale, who finished 10th in the pole vault at last year’ s Class 2A state meet, graduated.
Coach Bouley’ s expectations for 2026:“ We are hoping to move up one or two spots in both the [ Mississippi 8 ] conference and our section. We are hoping to return to the state tournament and bring a few new more participants as well.”
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