BELLEVILLE — Two years ago, Belleville Christian School didn’t have a track and field program. No lanes, no jumps, no throws — just a handful of students who wanted something active to do in the spring and a staff willing to build a program from the ground up.

Today, that effort has turned into a team that’s giving kids a place to grow, compete, and discover what they’re capable of.

In only its second season, Belleville Christian’s track program is becoming a steady presence. The Thunder aren’t built on roster depth or team points. They’re built on opportunity — the chance for students to try something new, challenge themselves, and represent their school in a sport that didn’t exist for them just a short time ago.

Thunder head coach Scott Falkner is assisted by Stacey and Chris Falkner and Sierra Grove. They have worked to make the sport accessible with the limited resources they have.

The school now has areas for long jump and triple jump, high jump mats, hurdles, and all the throwing events. The facilities are simple in places, but they’re functional — and more importantly, they’re giving kids a chance to participate in events they’ve never tried before.

“We can’t cover every event yet with our numbers,” Stacey said, “but we’re getting kids into a fair amount of them. The goal is to let them try things, learn, and find what fits.”

That approach is working. The program now includes seven high school athletes and 12 middle school athletes, with more showing interest as the season unfolds. Earlier this spring, the high school team traveled to Northern Cambria, gaining valuable early-season experience. The middle school squad followed with a trip to face State College and Hollidaysburg, giving younger athletes a taste of big-school competition.

For many of these students, track has become a welcome addition to their school year — something active, structured, and positive to look forward to. The program has quickly become a place where kids can belong.

During the Thunder’s recent outing on April 11, the fledgling varsity program headed to the 28th Demans Team Sports Brookville Invitational, one of the largest meets on their schedule. With 25 schools represented, the meet offered a true test — and Belleville Christian responded with steady improvement and several standout performances.

Freshman Cade Yoder delivered one of the day’s highlights, posting two personal records. He opened with an 11:12 PR in the 3,200 meters, then returned later to run a 5:17 PR in the 1,600. For a first-year runner in a deep invitational field, the double showed both talent and determination.

Sophomore Devin Yoder added another PR to the team’s tally, running 2:26 in the 800 meters, reflecting his steady work in the mid-distance group. Junior Grant Yoder also doubled, running 5:20 in the 1,600 and 2:28 in the 800, giving the Thunder consistent representation in the middle-distance lanes.

In the sprints, sophomore Ethan Miller continued to gain experience, posting 12.59 in the 100 meters and 26.43 in the 200, competing hard against larger, deeper sprint programs.

Meanwhile, the junior high team headed to Clearfield to compete.

The Thunder varsity held a Meet Day at Central Cambria on April 14. It proved to be a wet afternoon as Belleville Christian faced the host Red Devils along with Greater Johnstown and Chestnut Ridge.

Top finishers were: Cade Yoder, seventh in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200; Ethan Miller, ninth in the long jump; Grant Yoder, sixth in the 800 and 1,600; Devin Yoder, eighth in the 400; and the boys 4×400 relay placed second.

The Thunder’s Middle School teams traveled to Hollidaysburg and State College last week, their third meet in five days. Despite the busy schedule, a number of personal bests were posted. Going into those meets, Landon Yoder had also qualified in the 100 for the Middle School Championships. He has now qualified in the 100 and the 200.

Another highlight of the season is seventh-grader Landon Yoder qualifying to compete in the 200 at the upcoming Middle School Championship meet after posting a time of 26.20.

But the story of Belleville Christian track isn’t written in times alone. It’s written in the way athletes cheer for each other. In the way middle schoolers watch the high school runners and imagine themselves there next year. In the way kids who once had no spring sport now show up early, stay late and ask what event they can try next.

“It’s been a good start to the season,” Stacey said. “The team is growing. The kids are excited. That’s what matters.”

For Belleville Christian, the story isn’t about where the program ranks — it’s about where it’s headed. And on a cool April afternoon in Brookville, with personal records falling and confidence rising, the direction was clear.

The Thunder are building something — one meet, one event, one athlete at a time.