INUVIK - The halls of Samuel Hearne secondary school are busy once more, with the track and field team starting training.

Coach Lisa Acker said the group may have just started circuit training this week, but many athletes have been running for some time now.

"We started our running at the beginning of the year and just started the main workouts earlier this week," she said.

Acked said the group of athletes is larger than in past years.

"We're seeing more and more students coming out every week," she said.

"It looks like we'll have a pretty good team this year."

Acker added that the group's training involves squats, pushups and other exercises that get the heart pumping.

"We want them working at comfortable levels," she said.

Richard Phillips is one of the returning students to the team.

Phillips said he started last year and will continue with his training.

"I haven't really been doing much this year, but now I'm getting back into it," said Phillips.

He said the group meets after school and athletes run in the school hallways.

"It's been good, there are a lot of students coming out," he said.

Acker added that the students would start using the gymnasium once the soccer classes were done for the year.

"We'll get into the gym soon, then we will start our other training on mats," she said.

Field events such as shot-put and javelin will also be in session once the gym is clear.

Acker said fundraising for the group can be difficult, because of airfare.

"Last year, we sent 26 students (to Hay River) for $31,000," said Acker.

This year, the group has some assistance in their fundraising.

"We have two plane tickets on Canadian North, which will be raffled off," said Acker.

Kyle Bilodeau is another one of the athletes who is pushing his limits in the hallways.

"It's fun, I don't know why I'm into it so much," said Bilodeau.

"It's a good workout."