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Season preview: Returning talent highlights F-F track & field


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BOYS

Shippensburg Greyhounds

Coach: Michael Sassin, fourth year

Last season: 4-3 (3-2 Mid Penn Colonial Division)

Returning performers: Ethan Bert (jr., distance), Isaac Covert (jr., distance), Jacob Cox (sr., sprints), Chase Diehl (sr., PV), Cain Fridinger (jr., sprints/jumps), Cody Gustafson (sr., jumps), Adam Houser (jr., sprints), Hunter Kent (sr., distance), Bailey Renfrew (jr., distance/PV), Denny Santana (sr., throws), Cole Souders (jr., jumps), Austin Taylor (jr., hurdles), Carter Van Scyoc (jr., throws).

Other top performers: Noah Foust (fr., throws), Nick Gustafson (fr., throws/ jumps), Braden McSherry (jr., throws), Michael Reich (fr., jumps/hurdles).

Outlook: “We are a young team with 30 freshman and no middle school program,” Sassin said. “But we have 70 athletes with 13 returning letter winners. The five returning senior letter winners are all excellent leaders for our younger athletes to look up to.”

Notes: Sassin said the team’s lack of depth is a concern, but the large crop of newcomers will have more opportunity to help the team win meets.

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

Greencastle-Antrim
Blue Devils

Coach: Devin McCauley, 12th year

Last season: 6-0 (5-0 Mid Penn Colonial Division, won the MPC title)

Returning performers: Campbell Parker (sr., throws), Jacob Hockman (sr., throws), Kaleb Hurley (jr., distance), Andrew Johnson (sr., distance), Darius Carter (sr., hurdles), Demetrius Burton (jr., sprints), Kyrin Zimmerman (sr., jumps).

Other top performers: Billy Schemel (jr., distance), Rylan Hummer (jr., distance), Tony Fugate (jr., sprints), Antwoine Carter (so., sprints), Ian Gelsinger (jr., jumps).

Outlook: “The goal is always the same when we talk about the dual season – to win a division championship,” McCauley said. “We have a nice group of returners and the depth is continuing to improve.”

Notes: After losing one of the area’s top sprinters, Liam Okal, Greencastle will look to Demetrius Burton to fill in. McCauley said, “Burton is back and he’s a great athlete. He has gotten better and has worked with Liam to continue the tradition of having some great sprinters here.”

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

More: Inexperience shouldn't thwart Chambersburg success on track

James Buchanan
Rockets

Coach: Jason Cotton, sixth year

Last season: 1-5 (1-4 Mid Penn Colonial Division)

Returning performers: Dalton Leab (sr., distance), Clayton Bendell (sr., jumps), Dalton Peterson (sr., throws), Jamal Riley (sr., sprints, jumps)

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

Waynesboro Indians

Coach: Michael Garraway, fourth year

Last season: 2-3 (2-3 Mid Penn Colonial Division)

Returning performers: Bryce Stevenson (sr., throws), Levi Moats (sr., PV), Chris Miachle (sr., distance), Marcus Cooley (so., distance), Jerem Brown (so., sprints).

Other top performers: Brock Persons (sr., javelin).

Outlook: Garraway said, “We are trying to find ways to motivate the kids and work harder and harder to be competitive as a team in the next couple of years. We are trying to get the kids working to push themselves harder than in the past. Waynesboro is a big enough school that we should have a competitive track team.”

Notes: Garraway said the Indians have an even spread of talent, and expects Chris Miachle to make it to districts.

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

McConnellsburg Spartans

Coach: Zachary Mason, first year

Last season: 13-2 (9-2 ICC)

Returning performers: Chance Hawbaker (sr., sprints), Zach DeShong (sr., hurdles), Matthew Daniels (sr., throws), Sean Smith (sr., hurdles), Rylan Cutshall (jumps), Ronald Simon, Josh Booth (jr., hurdles)

Other top performers: Austin Baker (jr., sprints/ throws), Philip Strait (so., jumps), Damon Knepper (so., jumps), Nathan Loreman (jr., throws).

Outlook: Mason said, "I think that we are looking to have a great season. We have a senior class that has really stepped up to lead the team, especially in a time of transition. We have a lot of freshman who are trying to find their events but are doing a great job and working hard."

Season opener: March 30 at Juniata Valley, 4 p.m.

Southern Fulton Indians

Coach: Heather Gordon, fifth year

Last season: 11-4 (8-3 ICC)

Returning performers: Chase Varner (sr., 800), Benjy Voight (sr., 1600), Tim Wright (sr., javelin), Gavin Wills (sr., PV).

Other top performers: Jeremiah Ashkettle (jr., 400), Jacob Murray (sr., middle distance), Dylan Ensor (jr., sprints).

Outlook: "We are enthusiastic for the year,” Gordon said. “The kids are anxious to get out and compete. We expect big things from returnees and also Jacob Murray, who has been working hard in the offseason. Hopefully Chase (Varner) is able to return to states again this year - along with a few others and maybe a relay.”

Season opener: March 30 vs. Mount Union, 4 p.m.

GIRLS

Shippensburg
Lady Hounds

Coach: Michael Sassin, fourth year

Last season: 6-1 (4-1 Mid Penn Colonial Division, earned a three-way tie for the division with Greencastle-Antrim and Boiling Springs).

Returning performers: Maddie Carr (co., hurdles), Rachel Crowder (so., hurdles), Ava Franklin (sr., distance), Hannah Franklin (so., sprints), Hailey Gettel (sr., throws), Taylor Nealey (so., distance), Eva Nye (sr., jumps), Julia Nye (so., sprints), Ally Ocker (jr., throws), Eileen Pomeroy (so., sprints/PV), Megan Pomeroy (jr., distance), Teddi Powell (so., distance), Ashley Rowles (jr., distance), Sarah Strohm (sr., jumps), Nicole Weaver (so., jumps).

Other top performers: Alexis Alleman (so., sprints), Kendra Ocker (fr., throws), Lexi Reese (fr., sprints).

Outlook: “We are probably as deep, with over 55 athletes total on the team, and talented as we have been in about seven years,” Sassin said. “But we are very young and inexperienced. It’s going to be tough with our youth, but another run to the top of the Colonial Division is possible." 

Notes: Shippensburg won a share of the Colonial Division last year for the first time since 2010 … More than 40 of the 55 athletes on the team are underclassmen, but Sassin said the team is heading in the right direction for another division title.

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

Greencastle-Antrim
Blue Devils

Coach: Devin McCauley, 12th year

Last season: 5-1 (4-1 Mid Penn Colonial Division, earned a three-way tie for the division title with Shippensburg and Boiling Springs)

Returning performers: Lauren Hirneisen (sr., distance), Jenay Faulkner (sr., throws), Keri Gearhart (jr., throws), Laurel Merriman (sr., jumps), Alexis Daugherty (so., jumps), Jalene Hummer (jr., jumps), Katie Priest (so., PV), Sydney Bowen (so., sprints), Alivia Martin (jr., throws).

Other top performers: Taryn Parks (fr., distance), Ashley Nobblet (distance).

Outlook: “We are hit or miss in experience this year,” McCauley said. “We have events where we have solid competitors, but those are also the ones where we have more than one good competitor in those events. So we will be pretty strong in some events and we are still looking at others where we can gain some experience just by running in meets and seeing where we end up.”

Notes: G-A welcomes Taryn Parks, the Class 2A state cross country champion, and returns Jenay Faulkner, a fourth-place PIAA medalist in the shot put last year, and Lauren Hirneisen, a state cross country medalist and a state qualifier in the 1,600 last season.

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

James Buchanan Rockets

Coach: Jason Cotton, sixth year

Last season: 0-6 (0-5 Mid Penn Colonial Division)

Returning performers: Leah Wingert (sr., PV, hurdles), Sidney Benedick (sr., middle distance), Mickey Heinbaugh (jr., jumps), Mackenzie Shughart (jr., distance), Shayla Ramsey (jr., hurdles), Emma Wise (jr., sprints), Kaylie DePalo (jr., throws/sprints).

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

Waynesboro Maidens

Coach: Michael Garraway, fourth year

Last season: 1-4 (1-4 Mid Penn Colonial Division)

Returning performers: Chelsea Bricker (sr., distance), Kristian Donato (jr., jumps), Lindsey Bricker (sr., distance), Mikayla Bryan (so., hurdles), Taliyah Capps (jr., throws), Virginia Cooley (so., distance), Haley Devers (so., jumps/PV), Emily Henke (sr., throws/ jumps), Catherine Skehan (sr., javelin), Madeline Spears (sr., jumps)

Outlook: Garraway said, “Last year we had a lot of young girls and I’m excited to see this year and even next year how they can mature and where they can go in the next couple of years. The girls team has the potential to be a competitive team and with all of the young talent, if they can put the work in, this team has a chance to be competitive in our division."

Notes: Garraway expects Madeline Spears and Kristian Donato to qualify for the postseason.

Season opener: Today at the Tim Cook Invitational at Chambersburg, 10 a.m.

McConnellsburg
Lady Spartans

Coach: Joni Dunkle, ninth year

Last season: 6-6 (5-4 ICC)

Returning performers: McKenzie Gelvin (sr., 400, 800, long jump), Kellyn Perry (jr., 400, 800), MacKenzie Harrison (sr., hurdles), Marie Fuller ( jr., distance, long jump), Niki McNemar (jr., high jump), Mary Booth (so., 1600, pole vault), Zoe Cutchall (so., throws), Lakota Elkins (so., throws), Kearanie Hopkins (so., sprints), Ashley Morgan (so., throws), Leah Seville (so., triple jump, discus), Rebecca Wenschhof (so., hurdles, triple jump)

Outlook: “Half of the team are new to track or freshman,” Dunkle said. “But we have a nice group of freshman who are talented girls both on the track and in the field. Middle distance will be our strength, but we are lacking numbers in our long distance and some field events. We also have a young group of throwers with good potential.”   

Notes: The Spartans return state medalist and Temple University track commit McKenzie Gelvin, and three other district competitors in Kellyn Perry, Niki McNemar and Rebecca Wenschhof.

Season opener: March 30 at Juniata Valley, 4 p.m.

Southern Fulton Indians

Coach: Heather Gordon, fifth year

Last season: 11-4 (8-3 ICC)

Returning performers: Emily Bradshaw (sr., distance), Shaelyn Warwro (sr., hurdles)

Other top performers: Drew Gordon (so., sprints), Mary Dudich (jr., sprints), Olivia Mottern (sr.), Lindsey Hollenshead (fr., jumps/ middle distance), Madison Unger (fr., sprints/ jumps)

Outlook: “The kids have been looking at the record board and have a few in sight,” Gordon said. “It’s great for motivation. We have a large young group of freshmen, which I'm excited to keep the program going. Hopefully we are able to turn a few heads during the season.”

Season opener: March 30 vs. Mount Union, 4 p.m.