With the outdoor track season to start next week, here’s previews for the A-L-O, Bureau Valley, DePue, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede girls teams:

Princeton

Coach: Pat Hodge

Top returners: Ruby Acker, jr.; Camryn Driscoll, sr.; Payton Frueh, jr.; Natalie Meyer, jr.; Josie Sierens, jr.;l Jocelyn Strouss, so.; Annie Thompson, so.; Alexandra Waca, jr.

Key newcomers: Leila Acker fr.; Emma Dye, jr.; Lenora Hopkins, fr.; RayyLee DePauw, fr.; Makayla McCarty, fr.; Lily Simpson, fr.

Note worthy: The distance events will be the Tigresses’ strongest area, returning conference placers in all four of the events. Frueh was the top area runner in the 3,200 last season, ranked No. 2 in the 1,600. Strouss was the BCR Honor Roll leader in the 800 (2:35) and PHS’ No. 2 scorer last year, running on three PHS relays. As a freshman, Thompson led all area pole vaulters by three inches. ... Driscoll, a three-time state qualifier and past medalist in the 400, running a 59.11 last year, is recovering from knee surgery from basketball and is unable to run this spring. She will, however, compete in throws for the first time from the power position. Avery Waca is the only other senior out this spring. “Of course, missing Camryn in her usual events will be a big loss, but we’ll still be very competitive when we have everybody as three girls are also doing soccer this year,” said Hodge, who is being assisted this spring by former Amboy-LaMoille standout Erika Zimmerlein. ... The Tigresses will open the season Thursday at Hall.

Bureau Valley

Coach: Jennifer Backer

Top returners: Leah Birdsley, so.; Caitlyn Egan, so.; Elise House, so.; Ashlyn Ledergerber, sr.; Gemma Moore, jr.; Emma Mussche, sr.; Michaela Noder, jr.; Mya Shipp, so.; Maddie Wetzell, sr.; Carly Wiggim, sr.

Key newcomers: Kynzleigh Garza, fr.; Madyson Shipp, fr.; Abby Stabler, fr.; Harper Wetzell, fr.

Note worthy: The Storm have seven returning in the senior, junior and sophomore classes, who will be supported by strong group of nine freshmen. Wetzell, who recently committed to Illinois Wesleyan, repeated as sectional champion in the 3,200 meters last year, also qualifying for state on the Storm’s 4x800 relay. She won the Lincoln Trail Conference 1,600 title with a time of 5:40.75 which topped the BCR Honor Roll. House is the reigning sectional champion in the 400, placing 14th at state. She also ran on the Storm’s state-qualifying entry in the 4x800. House landed a sixth-place medal in the Prep Top Times Meet in the 400 with a school indoor record 1:00.8. Madisyn Shipp also qualified for the Top Times. Mya Shipp was the 1A sectional runner-up in the 400 and sectional medalist in the long jump (third) and 200 (fifth). The Storm return all four runners in their state 4x800 relay with Mussche, Moore, House and Wetzell as well as its Honor Roll leading 4x400 relay with Mussche, Gemma Moore, Wetzell and Mya Shipp. Other seniors making their last run are Karlee Dykstra, Lilah Fox, Esther Kalapp and Paige Ledergerber. ... The Storm will open the season at home on Tuesday, April 7.

St. Bede

Coach: Marty Makransky

Top returners: Maggie Arkins, sr.; Lily Bosnich, sr.; Savannah Bray, sr.; Kate Duncan, jr.; Kijah Lucas, so.

Key newcomers: Bentlea Ernant, fr.

Worth noting: The Bruins have a strong group of seniors to lead the way, led by Bosnich (hurdles), Bray (shot) and Arkins (800). Duncan and Lucas are strong in the high jump for St. Bede. “We have a senior group that can score 40 or more points on any given night,” Makransky said. “We also have several other individuals who also contribute every time out, so we should do very well in the invitationals individually and as a team. If we can stay healthy and avoid dual athlete schedule conflicts, we should do very good at the Tri-County Conference and sectional meets.” Bosnich will be one of the favorites to win the Class 1A 100 and 300 hurdles state titles after finishing as runner-up in both events last year. She broke 20-year-old Illinois Valley records in both hurdle events last spring with a 14.43 in the 100 hurdles and 43.4 in the 300 hurdles. Lucas (4-11 3/4) qualified for state in high jump last year. “We look forward to watching Lily compete at the state meet and this year bring along a few more of her teammates. She looks to reach a personal goal and bring home the gold this year,” Makransky said. ... The Bruins will open the season Monday at Wethersfield.

Hall

Coach: Nick Hanck

Top returners: Amanda Manzanares, jr.; Haven Rossi, sr.; Natalia Zamora, sr.

Key newcomers: Avery Liebe, fr.

Worth noting: The Red Devils have a small roster with only 14 athletes. “We’ve got no distance runners, so we will have to depend on our speed to get us points on the track,” Hanck said. Zamora (hurdles, jumps, relays), Manzanares (jumps, sprints, relays) and Rossi (sprints, relays) will be key contributors. Rossi also plays softball but will be with the track team more than she was last spring. Liebe was Hall’s top shot putter in the team’s first indoor meet. Hanck said they want improve each meet and have fun. “We will set some individual and team goals and work on accomplishing those goals,” he said. The senior class includes Sydney Mautino and Sydnie Smith. ... The Red Devlls will open the season at home on Thursday.

Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio

Coach: Michael Robinson

Top returners: Grace Althaus, sr.; Maddie Althaus, jr.; Jillian Anderson, sr.; Olivea Glasper, so.; Alexa McKendry, jr.; Bella Yanos, sr.

Key newcomers: Izzy Klein, fr.; Scarlett Payne, fr.

Worth noting: The Clippers return everyone from last year’s team, including Maddie Althaus, a state qualifier in the 400. Yanos (long jump) and LaMoille’s Glasper (shot) qualified for the indoor state meet. Grace Althaus is moving to the distance side this year, joined by Payne. Ohio’s Anderson returns in the high jump and relays. Senior Sam Nauman and junior Morgan Kreiser also return. “We should do well if we can stay healthy. We were hit by the injury bug pretty hard last year. We are always looking to improve and we have had a good start to the season so far,” said Robinson, who is in his seventh season as head coach and 12th with the program.

DePue

Coach: John Beatty

Top returners: Michelle Alvarez, jr.; Daniela Valle, jr.

Worth noting: The Little Giants have a small team with only six on the roster. Alvarez will compete in the shot put and discus, while Valle runs the 200. While it is small un numbers, Beatty said the team “is very eager.”