IN THE STARTING BLOCKS — Members of the Fairmont Cardinal girls track & field lineup opening the indoor season at 5:30 p.m. today at Myers Field House on the Minnesota State University campus in Mankato include, front row (left to right): Cadence Leiding, Kennedy Becker, Meredith Nemmers, Elayna Anderson, Bella Larson, Kendra Blomster, Lexi Fuller and Audrina Suckow. Second row: Madison Pluim, Madison Carlson, Macy Hanson, Season Kotewa, Carys Gudahl, Ellie Perkins, Jadyn Montgomery and Harper Artz. Third row: Hannah Fischer, Mollie Leiding, Avery Chambers, Ellie Ortega, Leamonie Wilson, Frankie Martin, Abbie Simpson, Emma Pockrus and Addison Folkerts. Fourth row: Nora Fitzgerald, Juana Perez Batz, Bella Schroeder, Makenzie Gerhardt, Macie Miller, Ella Wubbena, Nathaliah Johnson and Ava Rodning. Back row: Assistant coach Crystal Hanson, assistant coach Stew Murfield, head coach Jesse Walters, assistant coach Brad Johnson and assistant coach Scott Geerdes. Not pictured: Grace Simpson, Elizabeth Hart, Emelia Klanderud, Hayden Newville, Annie Reyelts, Avery Steuber and assistant coach Dave Shoen. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

FAIRMONT — Quality over quantity.

With just 35 female student-athletes in the top four grades registered for track & field, Fairmont head coach Jesse Walters will rely on two returning state qualifiers, youthful relay combinations and numerous versatile multi-taskers to generate points for his program this spring.

“We’ve got some holes in our overall lineup, but we’ll look to fill those voids with some impressive younger athletes this season,” said Walters, whose Cardinals kick off the indoor schedule by competing against Big South opponents Blue Earth Area, New Ulm, St. James Area and St. Peter at 5:30 p.m. today at Minnesota State University in Mankato. “It’ll probably take a couple of meets under our belts to figure out where everyone fits into the equation.”

Walters, however, does have a good feeling about where his pair of 2023 Class AA state qualifiers — junior Macy Hanson and senior Bella Larson — plug into the starting lineup.

“We’re definitely counting on Macy and Bella to score a lot of points for us this season,” said Walters. “Macy will compete in the long distances (1,600 and 3,200 meters) and some 4x4s (1,600-meter relays), while Bella will get the opportunity to demonstrate her versatility in the high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump, as well as helping generate points by running legs on our 4x1s and 4x2s.”

Despite battling a nagging leg injury last spring, Hanson still managed to place 12th in the Class AA 3,200-meter state race. The junior standout, however, proved a picture of good health by capturing all-state honors via a fourth-place showing in last fall’s Class AA 5,000-meter state cross country race with a time of 18:31.3.

Larson, who made her state debut by clearing a personal-best 5 feet, 1 inch mark in the sectional meet’s high jump competition, tied for 16th place by netting a leap of 4-8 at the Class AA state event.

While sprinter extraordinaire Corene Moeller graduated last June and took her spikes from Bonk Track in Fairmont to North Dakota State University, her three former 4×400 relay teammates return to create the foundation for a talented freshman nucleus this spring.

Harper Artz and Emelia Klanderud — two of Moeller’s skilled baton squad a year ago — will contend with teammates Nathaliah Johnson, Kennedy Becker and Larson in the sprints, while Abbie Simpson — the fourth 4x4er from 2023 — will fit into the mid-range track events of the open 800 meters and 400, in addition to possibly the mile run.

Simpson, along with Jadyn Montgomery, will fit into the triple jump mix; Klanderud and Larson will vie for honors in the high jump; while Ellie Perkins and Carys Gudahl literally will set their respective sights higher in the pole vault for a second consecutive season.

Kendra Blomster, Gudahl and Simpson also will contribute to the Cardinals’ long-distance effort, while Cadence Leiding and Bella Schroeder will spearhead both hurdles races in 2024.

Leiding returns as the Big South Conference champion in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 50.4 seconds.

Ellie Ortega and Becker will look to generate clutch points from the throwing events after just scratching the surface in 2023.

“Ellie has great potential in both the shot (put) and discus, while Kennedy is a great competitor in whatever event you put her in,” said Walters. “We’ve got some new faces and some unknowns for me until we see them in action to figure out how they can be the most efficient in contributing to the team cause.”

Walters’ goal in the conference is to improve throughout the season and break into the top five by the time the league meet occurs.

“We’re in the same situation in the True Team sectional that we’re in conference-wise in that we are in the underdog role and could be in a position to surprise some teams if we peak at the right time,” said Walters.