The twilight of Don Howard's 42-year coaching career couldn't be scripted any better.

Not only has his Cooperstown boys track team won four straight Center State Conference titles for the first time in his coaching career, but this year he got an unexpected bonus as they chase a fifth straight.

Senior Josh Edmonds, who helped the Cooperstown boys cross country team to a state title last fall, will add his talents to an already very good squad this spring. The Redskins are set to open the season Saturday in New Hartford.

Edmonds, who was home-schooled until this year, gives Cooperstown another superstar in addition to fellow senior Chris Goodspeed, who when healthy is one of the best track athletes in the area.

"Those two are going to be great, but I have a lot more than just them," said Howard, who added he will likely coach this year and next and then call it a career. "Edmonds is super special, and I'm glad he's going to get a chance to run for the school and not just independently."

Edmonds will compete in the 800, 1600 and 3200, and Howard said he will likely break the school record in the 3200 very early in the season.

Howard said the heart of the team will be the distance runners, many of whom were also on the state champion cross country team.

"I've got a great cast, including Steve Scrafford, Brian Reis, Will Tirrell, Chris Leon and Kris Reynolds," Howard said. "With the warm weather, they've been able to get on the road and get a good base, and they should be ahead of schedule when the meets begin."

Goodspeed will compete in a variety of events, including the 100, 200, 400, pole vault and the hurdles. Later in the year, he'll also run relays but Howard said he needs him in other events in the early going.

"His best event is probably the intermediate hurdles, but he doesn't like them," Howard said. "But that's the event he can probably go to state in. He'll be hard to beat in any event we put him in."

Sophomore sprinter Greg Sorin has also continued to show promise after a good freshman season.

"He is a silky smooth runner and he's only going to get better," Howard said. "He'll also compete in the long jump."

Senior Carney Harper has already thrown over 40 feet in the shot put in practice, and will be joined in the shot and discus by Kyle Bronson.

Howard said assistant coach Joe Kennedy has been working with junior newcomer Lucas Niedzialkowski in the hurdle events, while fellow newcomer Mike Tandle has looked good in the high jump.

Freshman Trevor Huntsman has potential in the triple jump, but is continuing to recover from a dislocated knee cap, according to Howard.

"We've got a lot of events covered, and we've got big meet scoreres, which is exciting," Howard said. "I'm cautiously optimistic, but it's early and we have a lot of work to do."