Photo: Teresa Brubaker/MileSplit Minnesota
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Compared to other states around the country, Minnesota isn't as involved with the indoor season as some might think. That doesn't mean that there aren't any athletes shaking off the rust and getting things prepped for the approaching outdoor season.
As we inch closer to the finale of the 2026 indoor campaign, let's take a look at four underclassmen who are ready to thrive this spring. 
TOP OUTDOOR RETURNERS:
As a freshman, Hartwig finished in the top three at the MSHSL State Track & Field Championships for the third consecutive year, finishing runner-up after placing third in 2024 and winning the 2A title in 2023. With a PB of 55.68, which is the No. 4 time in freshman state history, the sophomore is already a threat regardless of where she's racing, and the fact that she's already posted a 1:00.50 SB at the USATF Minnesota Indoor All-Comers Meet #3 this season means she's ready to rock and roll later this month.
In his first cross country season at Minnesota's high school level, Schulz nearly broke 17:00, running 17:00.92 at the Augustana Twilight XC Meet. Over the next few months, he broke 18:00 in five of his six races, helping Minnetonka punch their ticket to the state championship. He hasn't had a busy indoor season, but running 4:58.68 and 2:11.42 for the mile and 800m isn't too shabby considering he shaved off nearly 20 seconds in the former.
JULIA LUEPKE
After a well-rounded freshman season that saw her perform well in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump, the second-year athlete is ready for more. Before the outdoor season can even get underway, Luepke has already nearly matched both of her PBs in the long and triple from a year ago, with marks of 15-1 and 32-11.5 carrying her nicely into the spring. She's also run 8.72 for 60m, a solid base as she gets set to take on the sprints again.
Not only is Semling one of the top underclassmen in Minnesota this indoor season, but he's one of the fastest in the nation. In his lone indoor race this winter, he threw down a 4:14.93 mile at the Darius Dixon Invite, nearly six seconds faster than his 1600m PB (4:20.3) from last June. The four-time 1A state champion is undoubtedly going to be a force once again this outdoor season, and the national sophomore record books might be rewritten.