Promising group of newcomers has Danville track aiming high

Youth and opportunity will define the Danville track and field teams this spring.

Under coach Nathan Smith, the Blue Devils enter the season balancing key losses with a promising mix of returning talent and newcomers, particularly on the girls side.

Danville graduated several accomplished athletes, including Andrea Holland, a four-time Knox Morrow Athletic Conference placer, four-time regional qualifier and state qualifier in the shot put. Also lost were four-time KMAC placer Heloisa Vazquez (hurdles/sprints), Jacob Hackman (hurdles) and Bronson Durbin (distance).

Despite those departures, the Blue Devils return a strong core.

Leading the girls are juniors Kelsey Hackman (hurdles, sprints), Brookelynn Carter (throws) and Saydie Presley (throws), along with sophomores Brooklyn Ashman (distance) and Maycee Samples (high jump, hurdles).

On the boys side, seniors Landon King (throws) and juniors Owen Gronberg (throws, sprints) and Aidan Mickley (hurdles, sprints) highlight the returning group, along with sophomore distance runner Nick Mosher.

Danville will also rely heavily on a large incoming class, especially among the girls. Newcomers such as Blakeleigh Anderson (sprints, hurdles), Stella Brecheisen (sprints), Hailey Colopy (mid-distance), Raegan Malone (sprints, mid-distance), Bella McGrady (sprints, mid-distance), Payton Miller (distance), Emma Payne (throws) and Allie Vance (throws) add depth across multiple events. Upperclass additions Kenzi Staats (sprints, hurdles) and Kendal Lepley (sprints) are also expected to contribute in the sprints and hurdles.

On the boys side, freshmen Parker Proper (sprints, hurdles), Bentley Sampson (sprints), Logan Joseph (sprints, mid-distance) and Caleb Inverso (throws) will be asked to step into key roles early.

“Our numbers are down a little bit on the boys side, so some newcomers are going to have to step into prominent roles,” Smith said. “Our girls numbers are bolstered by a talented freshman group, which will help our depth and relays.”

Smith expects the Blue Devils to be strongest in throws, sprints and hurdles, where both experience and talent return.

Early in the season, however, inexperience could be a factor.

“We’re very young and inexperienced in some positions,” Smith said. “We’ll have to grow throughout our early meets.”

As the season progresses, Danville hopes that growth translates into stronger performances in the KMAC.

“The goal is for both our boys and girls to finish in the top half of the league this season,” Smith said.

With a blend of proven athletes and emerging talent, the Blue Devils will look to develop quickly and compete across the board as the season unfold.

Centerburg

Growth is the theme for Centerburg’s track and field program this spring.

Under head coach Noah Menuez, the Trojans enter the season with a larger and more balanced roster, giving them the flexibility to compete across more events than in previous years.

“Our team has continued to grow over the last several seasons,” Menuez said. “Our team is much larger than it was last year, which gives us the opportunity to fill out events that were previously left open.”

That added depth comes with a shift in experience level. With several newcomers joining the program, the overall roster is younger, something Menuez expects to show early in the season.

“Our team age has also dropped considerably with the addition of younger athletes who are completely new to the sport,” he said.

Despite that inexperience, Centerburg returns a solid core of letter winners. Leading the way are seniors Blane Ball (sprints, jumps), Andrew Dickhof (distance), Hayden Love (sprints), Skyler Merklin (hurdles), Michael Wallace (hurdles), Ally Wilhelm (throws) and Payton Tucker (distance, jumps).

Juniors Jackson Ballinger (sprints, jumps, throws), Miles Marshall (sprints, jumps), Jake Hayden (throws), Dylan Tiffany (throws), Audrey Garner (distance, high jump) and Jocelyn Tabor (throws) also bring valuable experience.

The Trojans will also rely on underclassmen contributors such as sophomore Eli Indiciani (sprints), Myra Miles (sprints) and Afton Ellis (mid-distance, hurdles).

Newcomers David Jones (freshman, sprints), Stella Sands (freshman, throws) and Colt Sammons (freshman, throws) are expected to add depth as they adjust to the varsity level.

One area Menuez expects to remain a strength is the relay events.

“I expect relays to continue to be one of our strengths this season,” he said. “I also expect us to be able to fill out more events because many of our newer athletes are willing and eager to find a niche.”

Early-season growing pains are anticipated, particularly as younger athletes gain experience in meet settings.

“I expect at the beginning of the season that a lack of experience will be an issue,” Menuez said. “As the season progresses and athletes understand how meets run, I expect those issues to be greatly reduced.”

In the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, Menuez believes both the boys and girls teams can take a step forward.

“I expect both teams to finish higher in the KMAC than last year,” he said. “Both teams are more evenly rounded than in the past, and I expect to pick up points in events that have been less productive for us.”

With increased numbers and developing depth, Centerburg is aiming for steady progress throughout the season — and a stronger presence in the league standings.

Fredericktown

The Fredericktown boys track team lost a lot of talent, but at FHS, it’s not about rebuilding, it’s about reloading.

The Freddies return 12 stars from last year’s team, all ready to make their mark this season.

Leading the way are seniors Nolan Bender (distance), Caleb Smith (distance), Blake Sipes (sprints), Tanner Estep (sprints), Gavin Toombs (sprints) and Darren Hartley (distance). The Freddies will also look for big things from juniors Cooper Rine (hurdles), Aidan Ebersole (hurdles), Logan Roush (sprints), Lincoln Snyder (distance) and Anson Wenger (distance), as well as sophomore Brody Kelly (throws).

“We lost a great deal of senior leadership from last year’s team,” said Fredericktown boys coach Will Hartley. “So we have a lot of big shoes to fill as we look ahead to the season.”

Hartley has several newcomers he’s expecting to help out this year, as well, in junior Griffin Garver (sprints), sophomores Wyatt Payne (hurdles), Gideon Rashley (pole vault), Ryelan Conkle (throws) and Titus Tumbleson (pole vault), and freshman Allen Swartzentruber (distance).

“I believe we have a solid group of sprinters returning, including three of the four members of a regional 4x200 relay team (Estep, Toombs, Sipes),” Hartley said. “The distance squad is a little bit of a rebuild but should be in good hands with Wenger, Smith, Snyder and Hartley. Both our strong hurdlers are back and throwing should be stronger.”

With a well-rounded team filling out both the individual events as well as relays, Hartley feels his squad should be competitive in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference along with Mount Gilead and Northmor.