It may not be warm or sunny out, or even really feeling like spring at all — but track season is here for the Bobcats.

Marshalltown’s girls’ track and field team has a host of returners aiming to either reach the heights they achieved in 2021 or make another step forward in 2022 — with the main goal being a spot on the Blue Oval at Drake Stadium in May at the state meet.

Head coach Chad Pietig said he’s been impressed with the returners and their work ethic in preseason practices.

“We’ve got a really big group of seniors, the biggest group we’ve had in a long time,” Pietig said. “Some of them have tasted some of the highest success, qualifying for state, and others are hungry for that experience. They’ve done a really good job of bringing everybody along so far, great role models, great work ethics and it’s been a really great group to work with so far.”

Some of those returners and seniors include Phoebe Hermanson (who Pietig said is recovering from hip surgery but should be cleared to participate), Lilly Duff in the shot put and discus, Rachel Smith, Kendall See, Sydney Hotchkiss, Lily Roberts, Mia Rasmusson, Veronica Herrera and plenty more. Along with the return of Grace Rasmussen, Amaya Moore, Micah Blevins and Sara Huffman among the underclassmen, the 2022 team has a familiar feel to it in almost every event.

The Bobcats have been forced to deal with up-and-down weather conditions, which can be a plus or a minus given the need to learn how to operate in high winds, rain and cold weather during Iowa springs.

Pieitg credited the team for adjusting well to the changeable conditions and practice situations.

“The kids are resilient,” Pietig said. “They work hard no matter what we give them and whether it’s indoors or outdoors, they’re gonna work hard.”

Indoor events provided some strong results for the Bobcats, Pietig said, with Duff already grabbing a personal best in the shot put at the recent Central Invite.

Multiple Bobcats have already committed to participating in track and field events in college — Duff at the University of Dubuque and Rasmusson in track and diving at Central — with potentially more to come, and Pietig said their efforts and hard work should have an impact on some of the less experienced runners on the team.

“A lot of times, what makes you good is how you handle what your task is,” Pietig said. “We’re hoping the sprinters are paying attention to how the distance girls are handling themselves and vice versa.

“Our upperclassmen really have a lot of experience, they’ve been varsity runners since their freshman year.”

Marshalltown’s season begins Thursday at 4:30 p.m. with the Boone Invite.