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Here’s a breakdown of each girls track and field team in the area:
La Salle-Peru
Coach: John Beatty
Key returnees: Peyton Heagy, Sr.; Mallely Ontiveros, Sr.; Sarah Peters, Sr.; Bailey Pode, So.; Emily Strehl, Sr.; Avery Urbanski, Sr.; Emmie Hachenberger, Jr.
Worth noting: Strehl leads a strong pack of returners for the Cavaliers. Strehl is a two-tie state-qualifier who advanced to state last spring in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump and placed top 15 in all three events. Beatty said he thinks Strehl is capable of earning state medals in multiple events. Other potential state qualifiers for the Cavaliers include Pode in the 1,600, Hachenberger in the long jump and triple jump and the 4x800 relay although the lineup for that is to be determined. “Jumps and hurdles look good,” Beatty said. “We may have some good distance events this year as well. … I always want to have the girls do the best they can do and have fun. The last couple years have been rough. I would like to qualify as many girls to state as possible.”
St. Bede
Coach: Marty Makransky
Key returnees: Anna Lopez, Jr., sprints/jumps; Macy Zeglis, Jr., hurdles
Key newcomers: Ali Bosnich, So., jumps/mid-distance; Lia Bosnich, Sr., pole vault/distance
Worth noting: Lopez battled a shoulder injury last season but still managed to qualify for state in the 100-meter dash. She’s started her junior year strong, setting a school record in the triple jump and qualifying for the Prep Top Times Meet in the with the best jump in Class 1A. “She’s fully healthy and I expect her to do really well,” Makransky said. Zeglis also has started well, qualifying for Top Times in the 60 hurdles. The Bosnich sisters are new to track and are expected to make an impact. Lia Bosnich will be the Bruins’ first ever female pole vaulter and will run distance. “She’s very athletic and very strong,” Makransky said. Ali Bosnich, who hasn’t competed in track since sixth grade, will run the 800 and 400 and compete in the high jump. Makransky said St. Bede’s entire sophomore class is back after setting some freshman records last year, while the Bruins also have a large group of freshmen.
Hall
Coach: Nick Hanck
Key returnees: Promise Giacometti, Jr., sprints; Molly Dalzot, Sr., sprints/jumps.; Victoria Ullrich, sprints/pole vault.
Key newcomers: Jayden Jones, Jr., sprints/jumps.
Worth noting: The Red Devils are a sprinter heavy team with only one distance runner. Giacometti was Hall’s top performer at the Class 1A Rockridge Sectional last season, placing fifth in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes as well as the 4x100 relay with fellow returnees Ullrich, Dalzot and Jennifer Casford. “I’m hoping she can continue to improve and maybe put herself in a position to have a chance at qualifying (for state),” Hanck said about Giacometti. Hanck said the Red Devils’ goals are to “always have fun and continue to improve throughout the season.”
Putnam County
Coach: Brianna Downey
Worth noting: The Panthers have four athletes this spring — Chloe Andersen, Emma Nicoli, Molly Roach and Piper Kammer.
Mendota
Coach: Heath Raley
Key returnees: Grace Wasmer, So., jumps/sprints; Natalie Bodmer, Sr., distance/mid-distance.
Key newcomers: Cadence Thorton, Fr., sprints/hurdles/jumps; Dessa Komitas, Fr., sprints/jumps; Ashley Caracheo, Fr., sprints/jumps; Ella Betz, So., sprints/mid-distance
Worth noting: The Trojans have a small roster with just seven athletes. “While we are a very small team this year, the family-type atmosphere helps support and build each other,” Raley said. Bodmer missed last season with a knee injury and is looking to qualify for state in the 800 meters and 1,600. Raley said Wasmer has a shot at state in the long jump. “She missed out last year at sectional after a tough call on a great jump,” Raley said. The Trojans are making the move to the Three Rivers Conference this spring. “We expect the girls to work together to build a collaborative team spirit,” Raley said. “It will be difficult winning meets and our focus is going to be on each sprint, jump, throw, etc., to better ourselves from the previous meet. We get the chance to see some different competition now that we have moved to the TRC and that will provide its own series of challenges, but working together, we can accomplish what we intend to.”
Princeton
Coach: Pat Hodge
Top returners: Kiana Brokaw, Jr., distance; Morgan Foes, So., throws; Miyah Fox, So., hurdles/sprints; Grayce Funderberg, So., jumps/hurdles/sprints; Jenna Loftus, Sr., jumps/distance/hurdles; Morgan Richards, So., throws
Key newcomers: Lexi Bohms, Jr., distance; Hope Crouch, Sr., sprints; Kat Jackson, Jr., jumps/sprints
Worth noting: An incoming freshman class of seven plus the return of juniors Bohms, Crouch and Jackson will give the Tigresses much more depth than they had last year in the sprints, distance and horizontal jumps areas. PHS return almost all of its sprint relays and have freshmen who have already been challenging for relay spots. “When we have everybody, including our two two-sport freshmen, and if we can stay healthy, we’ll be a very competitive team at the local level,” Hodge said. Fox qualified for the Prep Top Times in the 60-meter hurdles. PHS is strong with its two Morgans (Richards and Foes) in the throws with both placing in the top three in conference in each event. Loftus placed in three events at conference last year, and Funderberg and Brokaw placed in two.
— Kevin Hieronymus
Bureau Valley
Coach: Jennifer Backer
Key returners: Lynzie Cady, So., sprints; Jillian Hulsing, Jr., sprints/jumps; Ashley Nordstrom, Sr., throws/pole vault/hurdles; Kate Salisbury, So., sprints; Addison Wessel, So., sprints
Key newcomers: Taylor Neuhalfen, Fr., sprints
Worth Noting: Backer said this year’s Storm squad is composed of a lot of sprinters but will still have some depth in its mid-distance and field events. She said the strong leadership of their juniors and seniors, and returning sophomores have “a lot to offer to our new track athletes.” ... Nordstrom qualified for the Prep Top Times in both the shot and hurdles. ... Nordstrom (shot, hurdles, PV), Cady (LJ), Larkin (PV, 100), Marquez (PV) and Salisbury (400) were all among BCR Honor roll leaders last year. ... Rounding out the roster are seniors Rhaelyn Chism (sprints) and Ella Entas (sprints), juniors Mallory Endress (mid-distance) and Mckenzie Hunt (distance), and sophomore Connie Gibson (jumps, sprints). ... Jade Aber, the 2021 state triple jump champion, graduated.
— Kevin Hieronymus
Earlville
Coach: Jillian Harp
Key returnees: Isabella Harp, Sr., throws; Kenzie Hoaglund, Jr., throws; Noreily Hernandez, Jr., jumps/sprints
Key newcomers: Dalia Hernandez, Fr., throws/sprints; Inez Martinez, throws/jumps/sprints
Worth noting: Noreily Hernandez returns after being one of the Red Raiders top athletes last season. “One thing that I am constantly reminding my athletes is that even if you walk away from your event in last place, but you improved upon your personal record, then you are still a winner in my book,” Jillian Harp said “Given the fact that we do not have actual track facilities that we can practice on, our athletes strive for consistent self improvement in their performance. Because of this and our creativity in creating a unique practice facility, several of our athletes have been able to be competitive. Noreily Hernandez finished within the top three in a few meets last year, beating out athletes from much larger schools that have a track facility, so I am hopeful that we can get them to be pretty competitive again.”
Henry-Midland
Coach: Jarrod Lester
Key returnees: Nakeita Kessling, Sr., sprints/jumps; Laney Lester, Jr., throws; Daphaney Kessling, So., sprints; Jersey Johnson, So., sprints
Worth noting: In his first season as coach, Jarrod Lester has a solid returning core that is strong in the sprints and field events. Nakeita Kessling, the reigning NewsTribune Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, earned two state medals last season by placing fourth in the long jump and fifth in the 400-meter dash while helping the 4x400 relay to 12th place with fellow returnees Daphaney Kessling and Johnson. Laney Lester qualified for state in both throws last year. “The main strength of our team is sprints and field events,” Jarrod Lester said. “Nakeita is a great all-around athlete and I am expecting big things from her this year. Laney Lester is one of the best throwers in the area and we are hoping to build on what she did last year as a sophomore.” Along with Nakteita Kessling an Laney Lester returning to state in the same events, Jarrod Lester said he thinks Johnson has a chance in the 200 and Daphaney Kessling can contend for state in the hurdles. He also said he feels Henry can replace the graduated Nadia Kessling on the 4x400 relay and return to state in that event as well.
Fieldcrest
Coaches: Carol Bauer, Keith Baldwin
Key returners: Calli Nix, Sr., throws; Haley Doty, Jr., relays; Carolyn Megow, Jr., throws/sprints; Clare Phillips, Jr., distance; Kyra Cunningham, So., relays; Melisa Echiveste, So., distance; Aja Mesarchik, So., jumps/sprints; Tatiana Serna, So., sprints/relays.
Key newcomers: Natalie Schultz, Sr., relays; Aaralyn McCullough, Jr., 800/relays; Cheylee Reed, Jr., 800/relays; Kalla Burns, So., relays; Angel Serna, Fr., sprints/relays
Worth noting: The girls will be led by Megow, who made state in the shot put and 300-meter hurdles last spring and won the shot at the Heart of Illinois Conference Meet last week, edging Nix. Megow, Phillips and the Sernas are a tough 4x400 relay, Mesarchik is a potential state qualifier in the high jump and sprints. “The team is really too small to really factor in team standings at a meet,” Bauer said. “But we do have the talent to get wins and points in single events. There is a lot of potential there. We’ll see how they develop as the season progresses … Hopefully, we’ll get to see what Carolyn and Calli can do at outdoor state in May.”
— Charlie Ellerbrock
Amboy co-op
Coach: Michael Robinson
Key returnees: Elly Jones, So., jumps/hurdles; Lauren Althaus, Sr., sprints; Lexi Ketchum, So., distance/jumps
Key newcomers: Natalie Wamhoff, Fr., throws; Laela Shevokas, Fr., throws; Taylor Jahn, So., distance; Dezi Cater, Jr., jumps/sprints
Worth noting: Jones had a standout freshman season, qualifying for state in both hurdle events, the long jump and triple jump and medaling in the 100-meter hurdles (sixth), 300 hurdles (eighth) and triple jump (eighth). She’s off to a strong start indoors as she ranks among the state’s best in Class 1A in the triple jump (second), 60 hurdles (sixth) and long jump (seventh) entering the Illinois Prep Top Times Meet. Althaus qualified for state in the 200 and 400 last spring. “Elly and Lauren look to return to state and we could possibly get a relay or two down there,” Robinson said. “Like always, we look to improve as the season progresses with better times and farther distances.” Robinson said the Clippers have more depth this season with the addition of Ashton-Franklin Center to the co-op, joining Amboy, LaMoille and Ohio.