Liberal’s track numbers are back up under first year head coach Merle Chesboro. There are 96 kids out for track (64 boys and 32 girls) going into today’s season opening Liberal Invitational at Redskin Field. Chesboro has more choices on where to place his athletes than recent LHS coaches have had. Coaches from other sports help bolster the numbers. Russ McFall returns to coach athletes in the hurdles events. Basketball coaches Shane Stout and Drew Gruver coach the jumps. Cross country coaches Darren and Cheri Bevis coach middle and long distance runners. Football and basketball assistant Joe Simon coaches the throws. Volleyball and basketball assistant Beth Simon coaches the sprinters and the relays along with Chesboro. Chesboro has coached at Ottawa University, Little River, Smith Center, Thunder Ridge, and Rolla before taking the Liberal job. He was going to coach with Tom Schroeder before the former football coach stepped down from the track position. Both the boys and girls teams return points from the state meet. Marcus Calleja is a senior and took third in the high jump last year. Senior Nate Davis returns after taking fourth in the 110 hurdles. Hannah Rotolo is a senior after winning the 400 and taking third in the long jump her junior year. Caitlin Bauer took seventh in the shot put last year. Garden City, Dodge City, Hugoton, and Guymon will compete at Redskin Field today with field events beginning at 3:30 and running events starting at 5:30 pm. Chesboro will be a guest on the Sportsguys between 7:37 and 9 am on Talkradio 1270 and kscb.net.