YATES CENTER — It wasn’t long ago — two years, in fact — that Yates Center High lacked enough athletes to field a track team for a full season.

Head coach Ryan Panko remembers.

Fast forward to this spring, where 19 Wildcats will suit up in the blue and white, including a number of (still young) experienced thinclads.

“We’re young, but we’ve got some nice numbers,” Panko said.

And talent.

Sophomore Jaylynn Birk, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the state track meet as a freshman — missing the final qualifying mark by 2 seconds in the 800-meter run — returns to head the Wildcats in middle distance events.

“She had a qualifying spot until the final stretch on the last lap,” Panko recalled. “Then a couple of girls passed her.”

She’s used that as fuel in offseason training, and looks to avoid such heartbreak this season.

Birk took second in the Three Rivers League meet in the 1600 meters as well.

Wylee Shaffer, one of the Wildcats’ lone seniors on the team, will headline the Wildcat throwers. She took fifth in both the discus and javelin at the TRL meet last spring.

Incoming freshman Mckynzee Burkholder showed promise as a thrower in middle school as well. In keeping with the theme on the boys side, Jeremiah Jones showed steady improvement in throwing events.

Colton Burkholder, likewise, made an impact in middle distance races, including top-10 finishes in the 800 and 1600.

“And we have a bunch of new guys,” Panko added. “We just have to realize they’re young. There’s a different learning curve, especially with the boys.”