Records are meant to be broken.

During last year’s spring season, the Parkland boys and girls track and field teams set six new school records in various events. That highlighted both the boys and girls teams a season ago, each going 8-0 in East Penn Conference competition and winning the conference postseason meet.

With a number of those record-holders returning this spring, Parkland head coach Stephen Ott is expecting more success in 2025.

“The EPC dual meet season is always challenging,” Ott said. “Those meets should help us get stronger for the postseason. Our boys are defending regular season and league meet EPC champions. Our girls are defending regular season and league meet EPC champions as well.”

The boys’ side will have to replace top graduate Andrew Beers, who now holds three different school records for Parkland. He’s the school record-holder in the 110-meter hurdles (14.05 seconds) and 300-meter intermediate hurdles (37.12 seconds), while also being a member of the 4x400 meter relay team that set a school record. Senior Nate Janukowicz, along with graduates Alex Kelchner and Tyler Rothrock, were the other three members of that relay team.

Other key graduates from last year’s team are distance runners Paul Abeln, Jacob Barnes, and Ethan Willard (3200-meter champion at districts), and thrower Julius Reyes (discus champion at districts)

“Our expectation is to be in contention for those titles again this year,” Ott said. “It is never easy, but I know our athletes are up for the challenge because we are stronger together. “ Leading the list of returnees on the boys’ side is senior Jaden Bulgin, who placed sixth in the high jump event at the PTFCA Indoor State Meet this past winter.

Janukowicz, last year’s champion in the 200-meter dash at districts, is also back for Parkland. Sophomore Colin McGuigan also returns to the track after last year’s runner-up finish at districts in the 3200-meter run.

On the girls’ side, Lana Hurwitz, the 800-meter champion at last year’s district meet, leaves a void in the mid-distance events.

However, plenty of returning talent has the Trojans optimistic heading into the spring, mainly in the relay events. Senior Cierra Valley, junior Kaley Seide, junior Ana Gbur and sophomore Dhaniya Miner made up the 4x100 meter relay that took gold at districts and seventh at states a year ago.

Valley and senior Lucy Tobia return as members from the 4x400 meter relay that placed first at districts as well; they were also members of that relay that set a new school record in 2024 in the event.

In their individual events, Seide was the district runner-up in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, while Tobia placed third in the 400-meter dash.

Tobia also had a successful indoor season, setting a new school record for Parkland in the 400-meter dash. Seide, on the other hand, set a school record last spring in the 200-meter dash (24.94 seconds)

“Our indoor season is key to building success,” Ott said. “A total of 210 athletes trained outside this winter and competed at indoor meets primarily at colleges and universities. I know this is going to be key to our success in the spring.”

Parkland set five new school indoor records this past winter.