WINTER PREVIEW: Case, Diman, Durfee, Somerset Berkley get set for indoor track action

FALL RIVER — The high school indoor track and field season is underway for Fall River area teams.

Case, Diman, Durfee and Somerset Berkley teams get set for an exciting winter year of action inside warm buildings. Each athlete will look to cement their performances for a spot in tournament meets.

Here's a look at the Herald News indoor track and field teams this winter:

Case Cardinals

Head coach: Stan Koss

Last year's record: BOYS: 0-2; GIRLS: 2-0 (not including those not placed in Arbiter)

League: South Coast Conference

Returners: GIRLS: Hannah Santos, high jump/hurdles; Ashley Byrnes, mile/2-mile; Emma Bouchard, 55/300; Hannah Storm, 1000. BOYS: Nick Thorpe, 300/4x400; Ben Deady, 55 hurdles; Jackson Deady, 600; Trevor Godfrey, 4x400; Ben Douquette, mile/2-mile

Newcomers: N/A

Outlook: The Cardinals recently opened the season with a meet against Dighton-Rehoboth and came up short. Now head coach Stan Koss looks to get them back on track. Leading the way on the girls side is senior and Stonehill-bound athlete Hannah Santos. The Case star was the league champion in the high jump. Another returner is senior long distance runner Ashlyn Byrnes. Sophomore Emma Bouchard is excellent in the 55 dash and 300. Senior Hannah Storm runs the 1,000. For the boys, senior Nick Thorpe runs the 300 and anchors the 4x400 relay teams of Trevor Godfrey, Jackson and Ben Deady. Freshman Ben Deady will compete in the 55 hurdles and Jackson Deady will race in the 600. Ben Douquette is a long distance runner.

Diman Bengals

Head coach: Aaron Soares, eight season

Last year's record: BOYS: 0-2; GIRLS: 1-1 (not including those not placed in Arbiter)

League: Mayflower Athletic Conference Large

Returners: GIRLS: Inez Medeiros, Emma Foley, Grace Flattery. BOYS: Keith Gomes, Paul Hart.

Newcomers: GIRLS: Angela Njoroge, Kate Miranda. BOYS: Cashton Richard, Phoenix Bennett, and Andrew Gesner

Outlook: The Lady Bengals return a lot of returning athletes and state qualifiers from last season's co-league championship team. Head coach Aaron Soares' team should be ready to go for another productive year of inddor track. Leading the way for Soares is senior captain and last season's Most Valuable Player for Spring Track Inez Medeiros. Junior captain Emma Foley is back for another season of winter track. Junior captain and National Qualifier in the high jump Grace Flattery ended the season strong last spring and should be ready to go. For the boys, senior captain Keith Gomes returns to lead the sprinters this winter. Senior captain Paul Hart is back as well to lead the throwers. Cashton Richard, Phoenix Bennett, and Andrew Gesner look to make their winter track debuts. Soares said some of the top level teams besides his should be Southeastern and Bishop Feehan.

Durfee Hilltoppers

Head coach: Tim Powers, second season; Corey Sleep, 12th season

Last year's record: BOYS: 0-1; GIRLS: 0-1 (not including those not placed in Arbiter)

League: Southeast Conference

Returners: GIRLS: Jasmine DoSouto, shot put; Thysh Garcia-Martinez, 55 dash, long jump. BOYS: Aidan Lanciault, 300/high jump; Owen Moniz, 300/relays; Hyde Farias, hurdles;

Newcomers: GIRLS: Isabelle Leite, sprints, relays, long jump. BOYS: Curtis Mowatt, sprints/long jump; Frank Pichardo, relays.

Outlook: There's a lot of uncertainty this year as the Lady Hilltoppers will be without two-time Herald News Player of the Year Shakira Cadet, who graduated in the spring. Head coach Tim Power said he will be looking for the girls to improve in every meet. "It will be difficult to win dual meets in the conference due to not having the depth that other teams have," Powers said. "Ultimately, we hope to have multiple members of our team qualify for championship meets by the end of the season." One of the main attraction back for another season is shot put junior athlete Jasmine DoSouto. Sophomore Thysh Garcia-Martinez is looking for a breakout season after an injured-ridden spring campaign. Senior Isabelle Leite is looking forward to compete in the sprints, relays and long jump. Powers said Datrmouth is a handful. For the boys, returning senior captain Aidan Lanciault excels in the 300 and the high jump. Junior captain Owen Moniz runs the 300 and a member of the relay teams. Junior captain Hyde Farias takes on the hurdles. Newcomers Curtis Mowatt does the long jump and Frank Pichardo handles the sprints. "The team is small and has many athletes that are brand new to the sport," Durfee head coach Corey Sleep said. "Although we are small and might not be able to field every event, the athletes we do have work very hard. Sleep said Brockton, Bridgewater-Raynham and Dartmouth will be tough.

Somerset Berkley Raiders

Head coach: Keegan LaRue, sixth season; Julie Riding, fifth season

Last year's record: BOYS: 3-1; GIRLS: 1-3

League: South Coast Conference

Returners: BOYS: Camden Rose, sprinter/4x400; Derrick Camara sprinter/hurdles; Benjamin Miller, sprinter/hurdler. GIRLS: Ashley O'Donovan, 55 dash/shot out; Emily Carr, hurdles/high jumps.

Newcomers: BOYS: Matthew Barboza, distance runner; Logan Cabral, mile; David Perry, sprinter/jumper. GIRLS: Tatum Swanson, 55 dash/hurdles; Emily Fernandes, distance runner.

Outlook: The Raiders boys indoor team are smaller than in year's past, but are more focused. "We have some strong athletes that we're looking forward to seeing develop even more," SBR head coach Keegan LaRue said. Leading the charge are senior sprinters Camden Rose. Senior Derrick Camara is a sprinter and hurdler. Benjamin Miller, a senior, handles sprinting duties and hurdler. Matthew Barboza (distance runner); Logan Cabral (mile) and David Perry (sprinter/jumper) should collect points during the season. LaRue stated Old Rochester, Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech. and Somerset Berkley should be in the running. For the girls, head coach Julie Riding said her team is rebuilding but hopes the long season strengthens the team's base. "The abovementioned athletes earn us points in their respective specialties," Riding said. One of Riding's key athletes is Ashley O'Donovan, who is versatile and will try the 55 dash and shot put. Junior Emily Carr, who led the team in points, takes on shorter sprints, high jump and hurdles. Sophomore Tatum Swanson is also a dual-threat in the 55 dash and the 55 hurdles. Sophomore Emily Fernandes tests her talents on distance running. Riding said Old Rochester Regional, Greater New Bedford Voc Tech, and Case are likely to be at the top of the pack

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Chezsports.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Meet the Herald News indoor track and field teams