Last spring to this spring is like day is to night for the Siuslaw Vikings track and field team.

Last spring the Vikings had seven meets, two on the road.

This spring, at last revision, the Vikings have 18 meets, 15 on the road.

Monday (Feb. 28), the Vikings open practice with the goal Hayward Field in Eugene for the OSAA Class 4A state track and field championships.

Last spring, the goal was to stay home, where the Vikings hosted both the Sky-Em League district championships and the OSAA 4A state championships.

The fun begins Thursday, March 17, with the Siuslaw Icebreaker at Hans Petersen Memorial Field.

So far, 10 teams are committed, including the Vikings, Bandon, Cottage Grove, Douglas, Glide, Jefferson, Marist, Myrtle Point, Pleasant Hill and Taft.

That's 10 schools, more or less. A schedule by coach-athletic director Chris Johnson always is subject to change.

Last spring, the Vikings finished in fine fashion, the girls placing second at state and third at district, the boys sixth at state and first at district.

Hidden Valley ran off with both boys and girls titles at state.

This season, the Siuslaw boys will be the contender at state, the girls hoping for the best.

Boys state qualifiers returning include junior Samuel Ulrich (800, 1,500), senior Chad Hughes (1,500, 3,000), senior Camp Lacouture (pole vault, 300 hurdles), junior Kyle Hughes (pole vault, 1,500, 3,000),  junior Hunter Petterson (100) and senior Avery Hart (shot put).

For the girls, senior Rylee Colton qualified in the 800 and 3,000. Colton and sophomore Corduroy Holbrook were two legs of the 4x400 championship relay team.

SIUSLAW TRACK AND FIELD

Monday, Feb. 28 — First practice
Thursday, March 17 — Siuslaw Icebreaker, Hans Petersen Memorial Field, 4 p.m. (Bandon, Cottage Grove, Douglas, Glide, Jefferson, Marist, Myrtle Point, Pleasant Hill, Taft)
Saturday, April 2 — at Marist Invite, Eugene
Tuesday, April 5 — Sky-Em League JV, Hans Petersen Memorial Field
Saturday, April 9 — AMJ Invitational, McKenzie
Saturday, April 9 — BigFoot Pepsi/Jim Robinson Twilight Invitational, Roseburg, time TBA
Tuesday, April 12 — Sky-Em League JV, Marshfield
Thursday, April 14 — Philomath Invitational, noon
Saturday, April 16 — 20th annual Prefontaine Rotary Invitational, Marshfield (Coos Bay), 10 a.m.
Friday, April 22 — Central Coast Invitational, Hans Petersen Memorial Field, 4 p.m. (Dallas, Marshfield, North Bend, Philomath, Sutherlin, Toledo)
Friday, April 22-Saturday, April 23 — Oregon Relays, Hayward Field, Eugene
Tuesday, April 26 — Sky-Em League JV, Cottage Grove
Friday, April 29 — Nike/Jesuit Twlight Relays, Portland, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Aprll 30 — Stayton Invitational, 10 a.m.
Saturday, April 30 — 56th Centennial Invitational, Gresham, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, May 3 — Sky-Em Varsity Meet, Steve Prefontaine Track, Coos Bay, 4 p.m.
Friday, May 6 — Wally Ciochetti Invitational, Cottage Grove, 2 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, May 13-14 — Sky-Em League Championships, Junction City
Friday-Saturday, May 20-21 — OSAA 4A State Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene