Area track teams prepare for new season
Mar. 15—ANDERSON — While athletes have been laying down times and distances during the indoor season for several weeks now, they are about to head outdoors to get the spring track and field season underway.
Last season saw a pair of Madison County championship stunners as Madison-Grant (boys) and Frankton (girls) made it an unlikely small-school sweep of the team titles, and a number of athletes qualified for the state finals later in the year.
Frankton's Sydney Duncan and Anderson's Zoe Allen have graduated from that group, but distance stars Ava Jarrell of Pendleton Heights and Cameron Smith from Lapel are back to make another run to Bloomington. Also back after missing his junior season with an injury is 2022 state high jump finalist Tremayne Brown from Anderson.
Here is a glance at the area teams as the season gets underway:
ALEXANDRIA
Coach: Michael Winters (1st season); Key losses: Conner Etchison, Tyler Breese, Austin DeVore, Logan Hill, Lilly Thomas, Jose Fisher; Key returning athletes: Triston Carroll, Langdon Ashby, AJ Granger, Kenden Miller, Lucas Sullivan, Xander Groce, Emmalyn Gullion; Newcomers to watch: Carter Sovern, Matthew Sarvis, Syler Hartwell, Taryn Christopher, Memorie Idlewine, Riley Thomas, Laylaa Moore; Potential breakout: Kenden Miller, Xander Groce, Riley Thomas
ANDERSON
Coach: DeShaun Holder (1st season, boys), Jacinta Dallas (1st season, girls); 2023: Zoe Allen, state finals; Key losses: Allen; Key returning athletes: Tremayne Brown, Di'Jon Whiteside, Amari Carter, Hunter Cook, Connor King, Collin Lewis, Christian Townsend, Zhariea Hampton; Newcomers to watch: Trenton Coles, Jamiyah Foster, Meah Beacham; Potential breakout: Brown, CambreAnna Austin, Malleyonna Johnson
Season outlook: "The expectations for the season is to get 1% better in four different elements — attitude, grit level, level of competing and consistency — to ensure that we have a successful season," Holder said. "We don't talk about being the best, we talk about having a winners attitude and being the hardest worker. I believe we have a solid amount of athletes that can come into these meets and do something great for themselves and the team. The Indians have their mind set on becoming Madison County champs for the first time in over 10 years with the last two seasons finishing in third place in the county meet. I'm excited for this season to see the student athletes put their hard work on display for the city of Anderson."
"Prior years we have not had the numbers to be major competitors in meets," Dallas said. "This year we have an increase in our numbers and a more diverse field of athletes. My goal is to field competitors in every event which will make our team more competitive. We have been focusing on grinding to be better students and athletes both on and off the field. We will continue to strive for excellence."
ANDERSON PREP
Coach: Don Quarles (2nd season); 2023: Julia Smith, Madison County 100 hurdles champion; Key returning athletes: Smith, Makenzie Armstrong, Kaylynn Orr, J'Vion Chatman, Antavion Reed, Kaleb Eldridge, Jack Fisher, David German, Jaylon Jones; Newcomers to watch: Laterious Stevens, Markus McClain, Joseph Harrison, Alex Porter
Season outlook: "We are excited to compete this upcoming season," Quarles said. "Good vibes and energy have been floating throughout camp since we started practicing. (The) weight room has been utilized more than past, and we've pushed each other to be prepared."
DALEVILLE
Coach: Dale Ellis; Key losses: Amarah McPhaul, Kadence Aikin, Emilee Pugh; Expected to return: Emily Simmons, Faith Norris, Jenna Brand, Makenna Corbin, Austin Ryder; Newcomer to watch: Kynlie Keffer
ELWOOD
Coach: Derek Johnston; Key losses: Katelyn Foor, Ellie Laub; Expected to return: Savannah Garcia, Emma Vanover, Alivia Boston
FRANKTON
Coach: Brian Williams (1st season); 2023: Girls Madison County champions, Sydney Duncan state finalist; Key losses: Brock Stephens, Jack Melvin, Bella Dean, Duncan, Eva Bott, Skyler Drake; Key returning athletes: Hunter Smith, Dillon Pratt, Bubba Nunley, Garek Ellis, Blake Niccum, Isaiah Malone, Ashton Sigler, Thaiden Alexander, Clinton Madren, Chelsea Newton, Evelyn Croy, Joslyn Karnes-Hatfield; Newcomers to watch: Jack Harrison, Owen Young, Noah Melvin, Lowyn Coffey, Adaelyn Berg, Chloe Ruhmel, Ann Curtis, Macy Curtis, Amaya Collins, Jacey Rhodes; Potential breakout: Niccum, Newton
Season outlook: "The boys' team should be able to improve on last year's results with the addition of several incoming freshmen to a solid core of returning runners," Williams said. "I am looking forward to seeing how the season plays out. We have pretty good depth in nearly every event which should allow the boys' team to do well as a team and individually. The girls are coming off of one of the best seasons in school history. It will be difficult to duplicate with the loss of several big point scorers to graduation including one All-State performer in Sydney Duncan. While our numbers may keep us from challenging for team titles this year, we will have many events that we will find a great deal of success. The main goal for the team is to simply grow individually knowing that that growth will allow the team to find success."
LAPEL
Coaches: Tim Miller, (boys), Chad Soden (girls), Dan Combs (distance); Key Losses: Nate Belvo; Key returning athletes: Cameron Smith, J.J. Baxter, Braxton Burress, Simon Nicholson, Landan White, Luke Jones, Elijah Stires, Hannah Combs, Sophie Goodwin, Jocelyn Love, Regan Stookey, Lauren Paska, Elizabeth Stern, Larissa Follmar, Ella Kobli, Alyson Miller, Grace Morris; Newcomers to watch: Maddy Poynter, Isabelle Sparks, Leila Wilson, Lilly Jacobs
Season outlook: "I think we will have a strong team, led by our distance (runners) and (Baxter)," Miller said. "We have a lot of multi-sport athletes out for track — several football and basketball kids."
"We have a good mix of upperclassmen and incoming freshmen as well as some seniors who are coming out to track for the first time," Soden said. "The girls are working hard and are excited to compete."
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN
Coach: Heather Bremer (1st season); Key losses: Abby Etchison, Josephina Carpenter, Eric Troutman, Noah Price; Expected to return: Promise McClendon
Season Outlook: "The start of our season has been delayed by the success of our boys basketball team," Bremer said. "I look to forward to getting the kids on the track because I know we have some elite speed. We'll be aiming to set some personal marks and surprise a few people along the way."
MADISON-GRANT
Coach: Jared Owens; 2023: Boys Madison County champions; Key losses: Tanner Brooks, Berkeley Finn; Expected to return: Aida Sites, Ariahlynn Stanger, Cole Stitt, Dylan Hofherr, Caleb Ewer, Zander Gillespie, Mavrick Griffin, Blayd Harris, Clayton Hull, William Ewer, Boston Caudell
PENDLETON HEIGHTS
Coach: Bill Coggins (Girls—5th season, Boys—7th season); Key losses: Abby Fisher, Andrew Blake, Isaac Elizondo; Key returning athletes: Addy Stanley, Jaycee Thurman, Ava Jarrell, Layne Richardson, Will Coggins, Drake Stevens, Nolan Souders, Ashaan Singh, Benson Davis; Newcomers to watch: Ava Reed, Ashlyn Walker, Owen Kean; Potential breakout: Jarrell, Coggins, Richardson
Season Outlook: "We are really excited about what the girls have been doing so far in practice and are looking forward to seeing what they can do when they get a chance to compete this season," Coach Coggins said. "Our goals are to be competitive in the county, conference and sectional meets this season.
"The coaches are excited to see what this group (of boys) can do this season because practices have been really competitive. We have a great mix of returning talented seniors and a really strong core of sophomores pushing them."
SHENANDOAH
Coach: Jake Stilwell (boys) and Jason Fries (girls) (1st season); 2023: Girls Henry County Champions; Key Losses: Keaghun Fitch, Sam Hinshaw; Key returning athletes: Evan Fries, Corbin Parsley, Garrett Adkins, Sam McClaughry, Hayden Hubbard, Karter Gray, Brooklyn VanBuskirk, Ava Garrett, Charley Davis, Brooklyn Mercer, Lydia Waggener, Kayci Hill, Rory McKnight, Kim Farmer, Addy Cooper, Halle Sanders; Newcomers to watch: Landon Mcduffee, Carter Abshier, Jayden Painter, Grace Lee, Brennigan Mable, Hayden Patterson, Layla Harless; Potential breakout: Mcduffee and Lee
Season outlook: We are looking to improve every day," Stilwell said. "The kids are working hard right now building a good foundation that should carry us through the season. We have a combination of seniors mixed with a lot of underclassmen. Our throwers have good experience at the varsity level along with a couple of our sprinters. The rest of our roster is made up of underclassmen."
"We are excited about the upcoming season," Fries said. "We have had solid numbers participating in our preseason Speed Camps, and our total numbers are up from where they have been the last few years. We bring back a strong nucleus of girls where we lost no one to graduation, and we bring in a freshmen class who will begin making immediate contributions in meets."
Contact Rob Hunt at
or 765-640-4886.
