Given the growing number of athletic options for girls during the spring, Northwest head track and field coach Glen House said he kind of expected to have some holes in his lineup.
“Our numbers are as good as we’ve seen in a number of years, and it’s a little bit surprising,” House said. “With the popularity of soccer growing, and a lot of girls who are going out for the lacrosse team that was added a few years ago, we thought that would hurt our numbers, but we’re pleasantly surprised to (have a turnout) in the mid-60s this year.”
There likely won’t be much in the way of surprises from two of the Lions’ core members, senior Mason Fitzgerald and junior Kaitlyn Bell. The main question will be where exactly that pair will focus their efforts on a meet-to-meet basis.
The 400 will likely be the main event for Fitzgerald, who House said is close to signing a letter of intent to run track at Central Methodist University in Fayette, but she will also be a fixture in the relay teams.
“This is only her second year of track, Mason didn’t run as a freshman, so I think she has a lot of potential to make even bigger improvements than what she’s done already,” House said. “We’re very excited for her this season, and I hope we can get her to state.”
Bell returns after getting last season to the Class 5 state championships in the 300-meter hurdle, although House said Bell was disappointed about hitting a hurdle in the qualifying race and not advancing to the finals. House said Bell posted a personal record time of 46.92 seconds last year, the second-fastest in school history, and he is optimistic about her chances of climbing onto the state podium.
“We’re bringing her along a little cautiously to begin with this season; she has a few injury issues that she’s overcoming,” House said of Bell, who will also compete in several relay events. “But we’re very hopeful that this year she can make it back to state, and this time qualify for the finals.”
Senior Autumn Thevel was part of the 4x200 relay team that advanced to state two years ago, and she heads a promising group of sprinters who will look to overcome the possible loss for the season of senior Rebekah Nicholls to a torn knee ligament.
Sophomore Jamie Lee will likely join Thevel in the relays.
“Losing Rebekah is a big blow to us, especially in the middle distance relays. She was a big part of that,” House said. “But we have some girls with real good potential across all those short sprints and sprint relays.”
Senior Emily Kline could be in the sprint mix, although House said Kline could also compete in the middle distance events as well as the javelin. Sophomore Jillian Thomlison is an “up and coming girl” who House said has looked very strong so far in the hurdles and will also likely run with the 4x400 and 4x800 teams.
Other long-distance relay candidates include sophomores Audrey May, who will focus on the 800 and 1,600, and Claire Meisch. A two-time state qualifier in cross country, Meisch dealt with several injuries during last season, and House said Meisch will likely compete in the 3,200.
In the field events, senior Anna Cox hopes to live up to Northwest’s strong tradition in the pole vault, and sophomore Erica Schamel returns after setting a freshman record in the high jump with a mark of 5-0. House said Schamel also has potential in the triple jump, and could be tried at javelin and in the 100 hurdles.
“She’s just a good athlete, and she’s got some speed in her, some jumping ability,” House said. “We want to try her in different spots.”
A newcomer could end up being the top performer in the throwing events. Junior Megan Fortner, a volleyball and basketball standout who has signed to play collegiate softball, has already put her skills on display in the javelin and shot put, with House saying a trip to state is definitely within the realm of possibility.
“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse or put any extra pressure on her, but just seeing in practice her raw ability, seeing how quickly she picks up on technique and things like that, I think the sky’s the limit for her,” House said.
Junior Jordan Adams will also compete in the shot put and discus.
For the boys, junior Tanner Campbell is the lone returning state qualifier after placing 11th in the high jump last season. Boys coach Ken Campbell said Tanner is a jack-of-all-trades who will compete in several events.
“And he’s getting better,” Campbell said. “He’s really the top point-getter on the team. When we go to meets, we know he can pretty much score anywhere we go with him.”
Senior Andrew Frisch is a 400 runner who also has the speed to win in the 100, as he did at the Seckman Invitational.
“He’s got wheels,” Ken Campbell said. “I think he may break 50 seconds this year.”
Campbell said senior Dylan Rogers has yet to truly find his niche, but he’s capable of scoring points in the jumping events and as a thrower, and he may also be one of the team’s fastest sprinters.
“Dylan has so much talent,” Campbell said. “He’s the kind of guy who can help you win a meet.”
Junior Joey Keller will compete in the 800 and also will fill a spot in the 4x400 and 4x800 teams. Senior Elvis Ambrocio, whom Campbell called “the captain of the distance crew,” will compete in the relays, and sophomore Cody Poskin, the top runner on the cross country team, will return once he gets over a few minor injuries. Daniel Nicholls is competing in the mile.
“That kid’s oozing with talent,” Campbell said of Poskin. “He’s going to be a real difference-maker down the line.”
Sophomore Keith Smith is the top pole vaulter, and Campbell said Smith could challenge the school record before he graduates. Senior Derek Tettaton is converting from jumper to distance runner, and Campbell said Tettaton is one of the team’s leaders.
“I really love this group of kids,” Campbell said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group to come to practice with every day.”
Fox track boasts both quantity and quality
Fox track and field head coach Jennifer McCallister is definitely pleased with the numbers that the program has generated during her tenure, particularly on the boys team.
“Our numbers were up last year, almost double what they were the couple years before, so that’s a very positive thing,” said McCallister, who enters her fourth season with the Warriors and the first as head coach of both squads. “And we have 100-plus this year, just as we had last year, so that’s good, just maintaining those good numbers. Coming in, one of my main goals was just building numbers, building excitement about the program, getting kids to the next level, and it’s exciting to see that turnaround with our kids.”
It’s also exciting for McCallister to see the quality that has come with quantity.
“In the four years I’ve been here, I can say that this is the most potential we have had,” she said. “We have a lot of depth that we really haven’t seen in the last four years.”
The overall numbers may not shine quite as bright for the girls team, with 48 out compared with 62 boys. But after a couple of girls advanced to last spring’s state meet – the first such trip in several years – McCallister said she is optimistic about the future.
“This year the focus is really on getting personal bests and improving every meet,” McCallister said. “If we’re able to do that, hopefully it’ll help us grow in our numbers, but our focus is to work with the girls and build on the skills they have.”
Junior Amie Martin, the lone returning state qualifier for the girls team, placed 10th in the 3,200-meter run at the Class 5 state championships last year, and McCallister said Martin is on pace to break the 30-year old school record in the event.
Martin will also likely run in the 800 and occasionally the 1,600.
“We’re looking for a good season from her,” McCallister said.
Similar results are expected from senior Lindsay Poitras, who has committed run track next year at Webster University. McCallister said Poitras, primarily a sprinter in the past, is making a shift this year, focusing more on the 800 and 1,600, while also competing in the long jump, although McCallister said Poitras may still participate in the 4x100.
“She’s a pretty versatile athlete, a very hard worker,” McCallister said. “She’s pretty quick, too.”
Junior twins Macyn and Sydney Young will compete in the 100 and 200 as well as the sprint relays, and McCallister said during the season-opening Seckman Jaguar Invitational on March 16, both girls already matched their PRs from the end of last season.
In the throwing events, junior Julia Green and sophomore Jessica Kinworthy have looked strong early in the season.
For the boys, junior Chase Waters is one of a quartet who return with state experience. Waters placed 13th in the shot put last season, and McCallister said she expects him to do even better this year.
“Chase is not one of those athletes who you would look at and say, ‘Oh, he’s a thrower,’” McCallister said. “He looks like more of a runner or a jumper, but he’s got a good work ethic, and he’s just an athletic kid with quick feet and good balance. He has what it takes to be a good thrower, and when you go to state as a sophomore, that speaks for itself to his athletic ability and the work he’s been putting in.”
Junior Luke Hatfield-Jackson finished 10th in the triple jump at state last year, just over half a foot away from claiming a medal. McCallister said Hatfield-Jackson will also compete in the high jump.
“Luke worked really hard all winter on his own and with the team,” McCallister said. “He’s pretty much starting the year not far off of where he ended it last year, which is exciting to see.”
Senior Donavan McCarthy and sophomore Elygh Moore return after advancing to state as members of the Warriors’ 4x200 relay team, which placed 14th, and they will again help lead the sprint relay teams.
McCarthy, who has committed to run track for William Woods University in Fulton, also will compete in the 100 and the long jump.
“Donavan is one of our strongest sprinters, and we expect a good season from him,” McCallister said.
Senior Alan Unterreiner will run the 400 and the 4x400 relay and perhaps in one of the sprint relays as well.
“Alan just comes out there and works hard every day,” McCallister said. “He has a great attitude, and we’re hoping he can get to the next level.”
Junior Jake Gowen, a newcomer to track, has shown some quickness and will get a crack at the sprint relay teams. Gowen is one of 10 upperclassmen who decided to join the boys team for the first time, along with 17 sophomores and 25 freshmen.
“We’re really excited about all the young kids, it’s just really an athletic group,” McCallister said. “There’s lot of potential there, and we still haven’t figured out where everybody’s niche is going to be, but we like what we’ve seen.”
Seniors Ethan Webb, Ray Bonner and Aaron Rorie will run in the distance races, as will sophomore Jacob McMillin. Sophomore Austin Dearing will join Waters in the throwing events.
Farmer cultivating strong girls, boys teams
After previously working with just the boys team, Alan Farmer is now leading the entire Seckman track and field program.
Fortunately, Farmer said he was “blessed to inherit” a reliable and talented group of girls.
“They’re a very strong team,” Farmer said. “It’s definitely a good group of lady athletes.”
Led by 12 seniors, the girls team has gotten off to a good start, placing second at the season-opening Seckman Invitational.
“I’m very happy with the girls,” Farmer said. “We have a deep team that can score points in almost every event that there is, so teamwise, we’re really strong, plus we have some very good top performers.”
One of them is senior pole vaulter Jenna Akers, whom Farmer said has already been working with a college coach.
“We think she’ll be pretty strong this year,” he said.
Farmer has similar hopes for senior sprinters Sam Stuckmeyer and Cayli Pfitzer, who has signed with Lindenwood University in St. Charles. Farmer said Stuckmeyer, the school’s top basketball player, will likely add the 400 to her events after recording a time of 1:03 in her first official attempt.
“We’re hoping for good things from her,” Farmer said.
Stuckmeyer and Pfitzer are also part of the 4x100 team that broke the school record last year, with junior Morgan Stirnemann and sophomore Makayla Parton back as well. Senior Maranda Kriese returns to compete in the hurdles and the triple jump.
“She’s pretty talented,” Farmer said.
Senior Summer Brown and junior Carley Critchlow will compete in the long jump, while juniors Morgan Vuylsteke and Ny’Reile Jones have potential in the throwing events, after both medaled in the shot put at the Seckman Invitational. Vuylsteke also medaled in the discus.
Senior Brooke Anthonies and her younger sister, Stephanie, are the top distance runners and will compete in the 1,600 and 3,200. Stephanie, a sophomore, placed 17th in the Class 4 cross country championships in November.
“Their mom is actually a runner, and they’re both excellent runners, they work well together,” Farmer said.
For the boys, senior Dylan Clark returns after medaling at state in the discus the previous two seasons. Clark placed third as a sophomore with a throw of 165-6 inches, then finished seventh last year with a toss of 156-5.
Farmer said Clark also looks strong in the shot put after throwing 48 feet in his first competition at the Seckman Invitational.
“He’s really coming into his own this year,” Farmer said. “He just has this natural athleticism, and he really gets after it. We were very pleased when he was able to throw in the 48s his very first meet.”
Juniors Zach Reed, Nate Key and Jacob Duester were key members of a 4x800 team that placed fifth in the sectional meet last year, just missing on a trip to state. Farmer said Duester was not able to compete at the end of the 2017 campaign due to a fractured foot, and with that trio looking strong, along with senior Ryan Hays, Farmer said the Jaguars have high hopes in the distance relays.
“I think our 4x400 and 4x800 teams could possibly be strong suits for us,” Farmer said.
Farmer also said that Reed, who placed 50th in the cross country state meet, could score a lot of points in the 1,600 and 3,200 for Seckman this spring.
“He’s been running all winter, working hard, and he looks strong,” Farmer said.
Farmer said he is also optimistic about his sprinters, led by senior Justin Miller and junior Jacob Reynolds.
“We’re looking for good things from them,” he said. “Justin is a great kid, a real hard worker. And Jacob really gives us everything he has.”