Familiar Faces For Girls Track Teams
Some familiar faces return to lead the way for the Tippecanoe Valley girls track team this season.
The Vikings return five performers who qualified and took part in the regional round of the state tournament series a year ago.
Coach Alysha Wachtmann’s team is set to be led by that handful of talented athletes. The Vikings will count on regional qualifiers in senior Hailee Hunberger (shot put and discus), juniors Jazzmine Brown (400, relays, high jump) and Catherine Leadford (hurdles, relays) and sophomores Lexi O’Connell (hurdles, relays) and Breelyn Conley (400, relays).
Also being counted on are senior Alaina O’Connell (distance), junior Ashley Childers (shot put and discus) and sophomores Breelyn Conley (400, relays), Brooklyn Conley (800, relays) and Karly Kitch (distance).
The Vikings captured a third place finish in the Rochester Sectional in 2013. Hunsberger placed second in the discus, while Brown was third in the 400 and fourth in the high jump.
The top performer in the sectional a year ago for the Vikings was Caylie Teel. She was second in the 100 and third in the long jump. The talented junior, a standout in both volleyball and basketball, is not competing this season.
Valley is scheduled to open its season April 15 at Culver.
Triton lost a couple of standouts in Brenna Lemler and Shana Anderson from a year ago.
Top returnees for coach Shelly Feldman’s team, which was seventh in the Rochester Sectional, are expected to include sophomore Jaela Meister and juniors Autumn Kane and Becca Kennedy.
Meister was third in the 100 and 300 hurdles and pole vault in the sectional in 2013. Kennedy was fifth in the discus and Kane seven in the high jump.
Triton is slated to open the season at Culver Academies April 16.
The Whitko ladies opened their season with a win over conference foe Wabash last week.
The Wildcats were led by Kaitlyn Read, who won the 100, 200 and high jump in the season opener.
Coach Gary Sims’ squad also got wins in the opener from Elaine Warner (long jump), Sydney Sims (pole vault), Brigit Nemitz (1,600) and Michelle Kelsey (3,200).
Whitko returns to action April 17.
Coach Bryan Brumbaugh is looking forward to working with some young athletes at Lakeland Christian Academy this spring.
“Our high school athletes this year are young but have had success at the junior high level,” said Brumbaugh. “We are excited to see what this group can do this year and the years to come as they improve and lead our program.”
I am excited about many of our athletes, including Carissa Urschalitz. She is a sophomore runner who is transitioning to the 400/800 range after being a 100/200/400 runner. She has a lot of potential this season and it should be fun to watch her times drop. I have enjoyed her enthusiasm and encouragement during our preseason workouts and practices.”
LCA is scheduled to open the season at Westview April 17.