Hendricks County Flyer

 

Youth was the theme for girls’ Hendricks County track teams in 2008, which should make for a strong 2009 season for area runners.

Brownsburg comes off a memorable 2008 season and returns most all of its roster. The team won its county and sectional meets last year.

Senior Allison Weimer finished sixth in the 400 at state last season and won the event at county, sectional, and regional. Weimer ran on the 4x400 relay team with senior Haley Miller, sophomore Rio James, and Kirsten Gaerke which finished fifth at state. She also finished 15th at state in the 100.

Aside from helping the 4x400 relay team medal at state, Miller also finished ninth in the 800 at the state meet.

Senior Kenya Owens returns for the Bulldogs after winning the 200 at the regional meet and qualifying in the event at the state meet.

“We’re just mixing up everyone’s events right now, all of our girls are running extremely well and doing their part,” Brownsburg coach Chad Neal said.

Gaerke and James will also return to the 4x400 team — which aside from its medal at state, won its county, conference, sectional, and regional meets.

Brownsburg’s distance events will be upgraded with the return of senior Megan Moser and sophomore Maddie Webster and with the addition of incoming freshmen Veronica Goduto and Sydney Lesko.

“Our distance girls are looking awesome, they had a great cross country season and are carrying that over to the track so far,” Neal said. “That’s something we haven’t had in the past. I think they can compliment our sprinters very well.”

Senior Tori Stone will also join the team this season and compete in the hurdles

Led by graduated distance runner Lorna Whaley — who finished sixth in the 1600 at state — Avon was runner up at county and sectional in 2008.

Despite the loss of Whaley, Avon returns most of its athletes for the 2009 season.

The Orioles’ 4x800 relay team that qualified for the state meet last season will return three of its four runners — sophomores Rachel Lucas, Maya Nagy, and Taylor Heidorn.

Junior Leiona Noah and Nagy will help fill Whaley’s void in distance events. Noah was a regional qualifier in the 1600 last season and Nagy was a state qualifier in cross country last fall.

Sophomore Briscney Fleming will lead the Orioles in the field after narrowly missing a trip to state in the long jump last season.

Other 2008 regional qualifiers returning for the Orioles are Lucas (400) and Audra Cokain (300 hurdles).

“I believe one of our many strengths this season is the overall team aspect,” Avon head coach Stephanie Chenoweth said. “From field events to sprints, distance and relays, I believe we have girls that are going to be competitive. We have a really strong group of upper classmen who are stepping up this year and taking on leadership roles because we are very young.”

Like Brownsburg and Avon, Plainfield returns much of its roster from last season.

Junior thrower Morgan Ford will look to improve on a memorable 2008 season in which she finished 13th at state in the discus throw. She won the event at county, sectional, and regional.

Ford was also county and conference champion in the shot put.

“We knew Morgan was good, but what was ironic was she had been much better throwing the shot all year,” Plainfield coach Jason Schoeff said. “Something really clicked the last two weeks of the season for her in discus.”

The Quakers will welcome the return of several other regional qualifiers — junior Rebecca Hoseman (100 and 300 hurdles), junior Courtney Erlenbaugh (100 and 200), senior Casey Moore (3200), and senior Alicia Peterman (shot put).

Other key returners include junior Melissa Jones, sophomore Kristen Mercer, junior Lindsey Silcox, junior Olivia Miller, sophomore Jody Pearcy, senior Megan McGary, and sophomore Amelia Stark.

Plainfield will also look for contributions from newcomers Mackenzie Motter, Casey Johnson, and Hannah Brickley.

After a strong showing in 2008, Danville will look for another good year this season. The team seeks to win its conference meet after placing second by just one point last season.

The Warriors return most of their regional qualifiers from last season including senior Stephanie Cullison (pole vault), sophomore Lauren Callahan (800), senior Abigail Brewer (100 hurdles), and 4x100 relay team members Molly Stewart (senior), Taylor Reyes (junior), and Brewer. The relay team will add freshman Jordyn Kyle, who will replace Jessica Coccaro, who moved.

Distance runner Briana Deckard returns for her senior season after winning the 1600 and 3200 at conference.

Other returners for the Warriors include senior Hannah Rawlinson (200 and 400), sophomore Rachel Burton (400), sophomore Samantha Harlan (hurdles).

Seniors Jordan Dougherty and Candice Marshall return after sitting out last season to help the Warriors in throwing events.

Cascade will try to build on a 2008 season that saw the team represented in five events at the regional meet.

“I hope we can match that and take a few more to regional,” Cascade coach Rosie Fakes said. “For us numbers are always an issue. We aren’t going to win a lot of meets because of that, but I think the kids I have are very quality.”

Returners that qualified for regional last season include sophomore Shalynn Eckols (high jump), sophomore Shelby Reynonds (long jump), and senior Melissa English (4x100 relay team). Reynolds won the long jump at sectional and Eckols was county champion in the high jump.

Other key members coming back for the Cadets include sophomore Kailani Musson and Kayla Berling.

Cascade will also welcome newcomers Brittney English and Justine Weatherman to the squad in 2009.

Tri-West fielded an inexperienced team last season, but returns in 2009 with its roster in tact. Senior Sara Blair was the team’s lone regional qualifier in the long jump and senior Kara Brothers will look to defend her Sagamore Conference title in the 100.

Sophomore Hannah Stroup will follow up a successful freshman campaign while junior Chelsea Harris and senior Tina Carr will both look to help the Bruins improve in the field after struggling with injuries last season.

The Bruins will also welcome a strong incoming class of freshmen which will include Rachel Allen, Lauren Pfiefer, Carissa Rose, Anni Titchenal, and Jessie Walker.

“The team is coming together really well,” head coach Luke Baker said. “We have a lot of young talent that seems to be immediately ready to help and score at meets.”