GRAND MEADOW — The Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander-Kingsland/Southland girls track and field team has made a tradition of sending sprint relay teams to the individual Class A State Meet over the past few years.

Now GMLOKS will be able to have all of its athletes competing in a state meet as the team has advanced to the Minnesota Class A “True Team” State Meet for the first time in program history. GMLOKS will compete in the meet at 10 a.m.  on May 18, at Stillwater.

Lauren Buchholtz, Anika Reiland and Riley Queensland were all part of last year’s state champion 4 x 200-meter relay team and Kassidy Kirtz and Isabelle Olson also have state meet experience as well.

Now those athletes are excited to bring the whole team along for the ride.

“I think it’s definitely going to be a different experience than individual state because we’ll be there cheering everyone on,” Kirtz said.

Buchholtz is excited to compete against some tough competition in a full meet.

“Last year we were so close (to ‘True Team’ state) and this year we feel really good about going,” Buchholtz said. “It’s more fun when we have team success because we get to share it with everyone.”

While GMLOKS has athletes from four different schools, who usually compete against each other in volleyball and basketball, the track and field team has brought the communities together.

“You kind of have a rivalry when you play them, but when you get to track season you’re best friends again and you wonder ‘why did I ever not like her,’” Glynn said.

Queensland has played with Glynn and against Buchholtz on the basketball court, but she was teammates with Buchholtz on the state championship relay last season.

“Over the years we’ve become good friends with each other and that’s helped us with the relays,” Queensland said. “We kind of gel together. This is definitely a goal we’ve been striving for. We just want to get everyone involved.”

Greta Warmka, a senior thrower, said the “True Team” Meet helps athletes motivate each other from the sidelines and on the field.

“It’s important, because it showcases everybody,” she said. “We all put in so much work in our own events and to go together is a unique experience.”