Once again, Mother Nature raised havoc with the start of spring sports in the Lehigh Valley area. And, just like every other track and field coach, Northwestern head coach Tim Cunningham said it has stirred his preseason plans around a little bit.

“Preseason has proved to be a challenge with the weather and inability to get onto an all-weather track,” he said.

Here’s a look at this ytyear’s Northwestern boys track and field team.

WAITING FOR THE START UP GUN ... The Tigers return plenty of seasoned student-athletes in the track events. So, once the start up gun goes off, expect several experienced Tigers to take off toward the finish line.

Returning this season are Trevor Cunningham (hurdles), Kenny Gawelko (400m), Andrew Cornell (400m), Andrew Goodolf (800m), Robert Leiser (distance) and Phillip Catrine (distance).

AIMING HIGH ... Before graduation last year, David Van Blargen capped his pole vault career with a bronze medal at the Colonial League championships and a sixth-place finish in the District 11 Class 3A meet.

Tyler Derr is returning for their final year of track. Derr finished with a ninth place at leagues in the pole vault. Thus, both Tigers classmates are looking to aim high in their respective sports.

SETTING THE BAR HIGH “The boys team has some key returners, but still has some open events which we are looking for underclassmen to fill. We expect to go .500 on the season and hope that we have some underclassmen step up and can arrange our experienced athletes to win a few additional dual meets.

“Of course, we are hoping for a core of upperclassmen to perform at the postseason levels (leagues and districts) and with a little luck extend that to the State championships in Shippensburg.”