A Pella High track senior felt like she was hitting her stride before the 2020 season was cancelled. Tirzah Wittenberg is one of five Lady Dutch track athletes who finished her high school athletic career in the fall instead of the final season she hoped for wrapping up this month. Wittenberg says the progress she made in her cross country season — by lifting into the varsity lineup and earning All-District honors, would have likely boosted her success on the track one season after she qualified as an individual for the state meet last year, as well as the 4×800 relay. Wittenberg will continue her running career at Northwestern College this fall.

While his career didn’t have the ending he hoped for, Pella High School senior Ben Jablonski is thankful for the moments he did have on the track. Jablonski was part of a sprinting group that had their chance to race at the famous Blue Oval at Drake Stadium twice in 2019 — first at the Drake Relays, and again at the State Track and Field meet. Now that spring has been cancelled, Jabonski says he has extra appreciation for those moments, knowing that nothing is a guarantee.

Hear more from Ben and Tirzah on today’s Spring Sports Spotlights on 92.1 KRLS.