New coach likes 'team approach' at H-M-S

This spring has been a change of adjustment for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls' track and field team as Kirsten Taylor joins the program as head coach. She succeeds Nicole Dorhout who had led the program since 2006.

A Minnesota native, Taylor was a track athlete all through high school and also at Augustana College where she competed in the triple jump and long jump. She earned a degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science.

Taylor's first teaching experience was in Colorado where she lived for four years and met her future husband. She relocated to northwest Iowa and taught at Harris-Lake Park for two years.

Taylor was immediately interested when she became aware of the girls' track coaching vacancy at H-M-S. Since being hired she has been a substitute teacher and was the assistant coach for H-M-S's cross country program last fall.

One thing Taylor likes at H-M-S is how all of the track and field coaches work together to help athletes improve performance.

"I was used to the 'team approach' where we had event-specific coaches who coached specific kids," she said. "The transition is going really well. The kids are getting better faster."

Taylor has been pleased with what she's seen at H-M-S.

"It's been a wonderful experience so far. There are great kids in this district," she said.