Tracksters poised for rerun of last year's championship season
Bolstered by last year's state title, athletes coming into their own, some new talent and senior Justin Kremer's swift feet, the Phantoms track team is ready for the season.
"The girls team looks a lot stronger," said Head Coach Leah McGinnis. "We have six guys and only two of them are returning from last year but we have some really good athletes."
One of those two is Kremer, who has won nothing but gold since his junior year.
Also returning is senior Chris Streit, joined by newcomers juniors Emanuel Webb and Lydell Talas, sophomore Bille Booth and freshman Daniel Trenchard.
Along with Kremer's sprinting performances, the team has also added some distance runners with Trenchard and Talas both in the 800.
They will also continue to compete in the shot put, with Booth throwing this year. Streit will continue jumping, joined by Webb, who will also compete with the sprinters, while working on his long jump.
"The guys realize that with Justin, a certain number of points is guaranteed," said McGinnis. "If we throw in a couple of other kids with talent and throw in some distance, the boys really have a chance of repeating (their championship performance)."
On the girl's team, senior Jackie Wren, juniors Lindsay Haswood and Sandy Pittenger and sophomores Lizzy Tobin and Jessie Wren, are all returning members. New to the team are freshmen Hannah Littleboy, Jessica Shields and Megan Timeche.
Last year, Wren was competing in the 800-meter but is returning to sprints this season. She will also continue with the 300-meter hurdles. Pittenger will still run the long-distance events, joined by Timeche. There is more interest in the girls high jump this year, with Haswood considering the event. She also competes in shot put.
Jessie Wren is working on high hurdles.
The work over the past few years is expected to pay off for the girls this season.
"The girls have a chance of getting into the medals this year," said McGinnis. "Jackie got her first silver individual medal and Lizzy will be in the medals soon."
To get there, the team members are focusing on their personal goals.
"It's hard when you don't have the same facilities to work with or the same athletic abilities as in a larger school," she said. "We try really hard to focus on what their accomplishments will be and set personal goals. With every one they meet, they keep inching toward the medal arena."
McGinnis is in her fourth year coaching the team, starting when Justin, her son, was a freshman. Her assistant coaches this year are Sally Wahler and Elizabeth Davis.
Though the team's size has remained relatively constant, McGinnis said it's grown in other ways.
"Track is one of those sports that's not the most glamorous," she said. "If you name your sports, track is usually not at the top of the list. But there's been a change in the way the kids view the team and what track can do for them. They saw what winning a championship is all about.";
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