The Marion High School track and field team features one of the most decorated groups of returning seniors in Marion sports history.

As a team, the 2009 track and field Warriors boys finished first and girls second in the Mid-Central Activities Association, third at regionals, and fifth for boys and seventh for girls at the 3A state meet.

Two state champions are returning for their senior campaigns.

Julia Zeiner was the 3A champion in long jump and triple jump. She also placed second in the 300-meter hurdles and was part of the fifth-place 4x100-meter relay team with fellow seniors Kristen Steinborn and Danae Edwards.

Nick Klenda was the 3A discus state champion.

The Warriors also have three 2009 state medalists.

For the boys, Tylor Neil was fourth in the triple jump at state. Ryan Jones and Eric Vogel were part of the seventh-place 4x800-meter relay team.

The team seems to have no weaknesses.

Klenda leads a group of experienced throwers, including Parker Ash, Sheldon Boone, Doug Schroeder, Sam Ehrlich, and Emma Hett. Boone was the regional champion in the javelin in 2009.

“We think Connor Thierolf, Colin Eurit, Jon Tacha, Dakin Ledford, Corey Shields, and Alex Young all could have breakout years,” Head Track Coach Grant Thierolf said. “We have a very talented group of young throwers — Cody Carr, Andrew Schaefer, Isaac Baldwin, Sarah Eurit, and Spencer Fugitt.”

The Warriors look to be strong in the long- and middle-distance runs. Jones, Vogel, Jaclyn DeForest, and Bridget Lundy have state experience. Jordan Hett and Monica Spachek are poised to translate their strong freshman cross-country seasons into the long distance events.

Jumps look to be the Warriors’ area of expertise.

Along with Zeiner and Neil, Drew Maddox returns as a regional placer and Whitney Gordon returns as a state qualifier in the high jump. Brady Hudson is back and ready to improve on his fourth-place regional high jump from two years ago. Patrick McCarty, Brody Carroll, Zach Hammond, Eric Regnier, and Spachek form a group of young jumpers of which Thierolf and the coaching staff are excited. The pole-vaulting group also looks strong.

Overall, Marion will strive for championship-quality performances all year.

“We have a great group of seniors who have worked hard for six years to get to this place,” Thierolf said. “They are all capable of placing each week and qualifying for state.”