Girls track preview

JEFFERSON

COACH: Christy Phillips

LAST YEAR: 4x100 relay and pole vaulter qualified

RETURNEES: Nikita Williams, Jacquelin Taylor, Ashley Green, Sade Hooks, Liz Larke, Debraly Ortiz-Ferrer, Briana Yorker

OUTLOOK: The Dragons are young with 21 athletes, many in their first year of track, and in a rebuilding cycle. The team has speed. But with relatively few athletes, many are being trained in field events as secondary positions.

COACH SAYS: "I am working on getting some of the runners to learn field events, and by the end of the season, because they are good athletes, they should be able to help us out. I am trying to stretch their talents. I expect this to be a learning year, but who knows, they could be a district challenger by the end of the season."

ALONSO

COACH: Blair Palmer

LAST YEAR: The Ravens were in their initial season last year and started with mostly new athletes to the sport.

RETURNEES: Jessica Allen, Chrystle Powe

OUTLOOK: Palmer is still recruiting, building and developing the Alonso program, but will be competitive in distance running with Allen and in the sprints with Powe. The Ravens also have potential in the hurdles.

COACH SAYS: "We still have a lot of work, but we are heading in the right direction. Our kids definitely have the potential. We just need to find our if they have the heart."

CHAMBERLAIN

COACH: Sheila Smith

LAST YEAR: N/A

RETURNEES: Brittany Storch and Ashley Postell

OUTLOOK: Jeneca Willis, Fatimah Shaw, Aleisha Hodo and Storch make up a very competitive 4X100 relay, and Postell will score a lot of points for the Chiefs in the 440. First-year coach Smith is building around those athletes and has some excellent younger athletes who want to compete. The Chiefs should do well by the end of the regular season.

COACH SAYS: "I am trying to build the team this year, and with so many young athletes to work with, it has plenty of room to improve. If the girls work hard, they could be a competitive team by districts. We still have kids coming out for the team."

FREEDOM

COACH: William Renninger

LAST YEAR: first-year school

RETURNEES: None

OUTLOOK: The Patriots are in their initial season and will build from the ground up.

COACH SAYS: Renninger did not respond.

GAITHER

COACH: Ladd Baldwin

LAST YEAR: Second in regionals, 13th in state

RETURNEES: Kay Truesdale, Kat Adelufosi, Heather Dickson, Shilah Rose, Kate Trin

OUTLOOK: Freshman distance runner Amanda Quick joins a mix of experience and youth that should make the Cowboys competitive early. Baldwin knows how to get the best talent from all the athletes in his program, and Gaither will be in the hunt when districts start.

COACH SAYS: "We have some young kids and some experienced ones for a good mix. The balance includes a couple of good throwers, sprinters, jumpers and distance runners. They have strength and speed and should come together to form a competitive team, covering all events."

LETO

COACH: Hennie Schoeman

LAST YEAR: Only one athlete qualified for state last year

RETURNEES: Jessica Shepherd, Debbie Stroupe

OUTLOOK: With Shepherd and Stroupe, the Falcons will have a solid pair of hurdlers. The other athletes will be young, but Schoeman is experienced and successful at building track teams. Even with a young team, Leto should be competitive soon.

COACH SAYS: "Although we have only two back, we have more than 20 athletes out for the team. This year they will have fun as they develop good memories of building a successful program. This year will be like a shuffle with a new pack of cards, I'm not sure yet what we have been dealt."

SICKLES

COACH: Penny Heid

LAST YEAR: Top three in districts

RETURNEES: Lauren Ophaug, Alissa Williams, Jessica Smith, Sarah Hatcher

OUTLOOK: Ophaug and Hatcher lead a group of new and experienced distance runners, Smith brings the field events team credibility, and Williams is fast in the 100 and 400 meters. They provide leadership to a young but strong team. With 60 athletes out for the team, Sickles will be in the winning mix all season.

COACH SAYS: "Our veterans are good athletes and leaders. With 60 girls out, we have plenty of athletes to build from. We should have all the slots filled by districts and be competitive in the meet."

WHARTON

COACH: Wes Newton

LAST YEAR: N/A

RETURNEES: Natalie Moser, Monica Landers, Lacey Williams, Shannon Woodson, Victoria Michelott

OUTLOOK: Newton is a successful veteran in developing running and field event athletes. He has 65 athletes on the team led by Moser (fourth in the state at pole vault). Landers, Williams and Woodson are back from a state qualified 4X100 relay, and triple jumper and hurdler Michelott will be back to score points. Last year, the Wildcats won districts, were third in regionals and 10th in the state. They are strong, balanced and will be tough to beat.

COACH SAYS: "We have a scrappy little team and all the events are covered with good athletes. I'd like to say we will repeat winning the district, but for sure we will be competitive. We have some very good teams in our district."

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