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Saturday,
March 30, 2002
2002
girls track preview capsules
Iowa
City Press-Citizen
City
High
Coach: Terry Coleman (3rd season).
2001 finish: 1st in Mississippi Division of MVC.
Returning
letterwinners (21): Tiffany Belmont, jr,; Jessie Branstetter,
sr.; Virginia Dreier, so.; Jessica Elliott, jr.; Betsy
Ellsmore, jr.; Katie Fraga, sr.; Kelsey Full, so.; Katie
Funk, sr.; Jennie Funk, sr.; Abby Furlong, sr.; Brenda
Giovanelli, sr.; Ali Kirsch, jr.; Katie Lynch, sr.; Elizabeth
Matzen, sr.; Monica Mims, jr.; Maya Monitto-Webber, jr.;
Meggan Reed, sr.; Ashton Strickland, so.; Nelle Trefz,
so.; Emily Triplett, so.; Heaven Tutson, jr.
West
High
Coach:
Mike Parker (5th season)
2001
finish: 1st in Valley Division of MVC.
Returning
letterwinners (20): Jeni Frudden, sr.; Jenny Evans, sr.;
Shirley Stern, jr.; Lindsey Windauer, jr.; Lynn Dobyns,
jr.; Robdu Adam, jr.; Kristin Jacobs, jr.; Liz Huntley,
so.; Jamie Castens, so.; Nicole Novak, so.; Mira Haig,
so.; Jamie Cohen, so.; Cara Montgomery, so.; Emily Kuehl,
so.; Jane Schlapkohl, so.; Christina Swift, so.; Cassidy
Hedden, so.; Veronica Dykstra, so.; Whitney Slay, so.;
Kristen Schaefer, so.
Regina
Coach:
Chad Swope (4th season).
2001
finish: 7th EIHC
Returning
letterwinners (4): Kathy Persoon, sr.; Whitney Butler,
sr.; Emily Pechous, jr.; Lindy Ahrens, jr.; Beth Brandt,
so.; Jessie Gannon, so.; Kelsey Homewood, so.; Katie Hurt,
so.; Kelsey Pacha, so.; Melia Raitt, so.; Nicki Steffen,
so.; Hope Coffin, so.
Clear
Creek Amana
Coach:
Jane Astor (12th season).
2001
finish: 2nd EIHC.
Returning
letterwinners (19): Stephanie Stratton, sr.; Carolyn Ruppert,
sr.; Amberly Bult, sr.; Erin Dougherty, sr.; Marcy Rahn,
so.; Laura Wright, so.; Lillian Swenka, jr.; Rachel Vomacka,
sr.; Kelly Wood, so.; Mary Hummell, sr.; Angela Mahoney,
jr.; Sheena Rohret, so.; Lindsey Hesseltine, so.; Angela
Ganschow, so.; Jenna DeBrower, sr.; Jenna Spratt, jr.;
Kelly Rugger, so.; Mindy Gormley, jr.; Lydia McKenzie,
jr.
Outlook:
The Clippers have a record 42 girls out for track, and
nearly half of them are returning letterwinners. Carolyn
Ruppert is the returning state discus champion. Angela
Mahoney placed in the 1,500 last year at state and Stephanie
Stratton, Angela Ganschow and Jenna Spratt return from
the 4x200 that took fifth at state. Marcy Rahn led the
cross country team that took sixth at the state meet last
fall. Talented freshmen include Carissa Bryson in distance
events and Jessica Hummer in the sprints.
Coach
Jane Astor said the balance and depth of the team leaves
little room for weaknesses.
"We've
got to continue to improve," Astor said. "The events we
do take to state, we want to place well at state in. We
want to try to step it up at state."
Iowa
Mennonite School
Coach:
Ron Swarzendruber.
2001
finish: 6th in SEISC.
Returning
letterwinners (4): Muska Ibrahimovic, sr.; Kim Miller,
sr.; Laura Martin, jr.; Shelly Miller, so.
Outlook:
Ibrahimovic looks strong in the middle and distance events,
coming off a successful cross country season. Junior Erin
Schrock and freshmen Liz and Midori Beachy and Megan Bontrager
will also contribute in the middle distances. Sophomore
Christina Leichty and freshman Rexine Miller are newcomers
in the sprints.
"We
have a small squad, but I feel we will do well in the
events we enter," coach Ron Swartzendruber said.
Lone
Tree-Highland
Coach:
Mike Kautz (41st season)
2001
finish: 2nd in SEISC.
Returning
letterwinners (14): Kristen Ronan, sr.; Laura Yoder, sr.;
Amber Birtcher, jr.; Sarah Cook, jr.; Jenna Foster, jr.;
Lisa Roberts, jr.; Jessica Smith, jr.; Jenny Snyder, jr.;
Ashley Colbert, so.; Heidi DeGood, so.; Diane Field, so.;
Brittney Lampe, so.; Mallory Yakish, so.; Brynne Zeman,
so.
Outlook:
With 14 letterwinners back, coach Mike Kautz is expecting
another successful season. Amber Birtcher, Lisa Roberts
and Jessica Smith return from the state-qualifying shuttle
hurdle relay team. Smith was also a district champion
in the 400 hurdles. Generally, the middle and longer distances
will be the strength of this year's team, Kautz said.
Top
newcomers include Shavell Gustoff in the sprints, Amy
Smith in the hurdles and high jump and Megan Eagle in
the longer sprints.
Mid-Prairie
Coach:
Bob Barrick (15th season).
2001
finish: 10th EIHC.
Returning
letterwinners (7): Steph Beeler, sr.; Nicole Bontrager,
sr.; Amber Ihrig, sr.; Heidi Miksch, sr.; Candice Richardson,
sr.; Sarah Wagamon, jr.; Amber Watkinson, jr.
Outlook:
The Golden Hawks have talent, but lack depth. Bontrager
will try for her fourth trip to the state meet in the
400 hurdles, and is also tough in the 800. Beeler and
Ihrig should be tough in the discus and shot put, respectively.
"Team
scoring wise, I don't think we'll do a lot until later
in the year," coach Bob Barrick said. "We'd like to get
three or four individual events and maybe a relay to state."
Solon
Coach:
Brent Sands (first season).
2001
finish: 6th EIHC.
Returning
letterwinners (15): Theresa Anderson, sr.; Hannah Brumwell,
so.; Kelsey Cannon, so.; Lynn Fuhrmeister, sr.; Hallee
Grantham, so.; Janette Kelsey, so.; Jena Lorence, sr.;
Jesse Macht, sr.; Natalie Miller, jr.; Lindsay Sandersfeld,
jr.; Melissa Slater, sr.; Tiffany Tanner, so.; Bridget
Toomey, so.; Lynn VanHouweling, sr.; Katie Hemann, jr.
Outlook:
Coach Brent Sands is taking over the Spartans after serving
as an assistant coach, and he wants to transform Solon
into a track school.
"We
want to get more people involved and get them excited,"
Sands said.
Junior
Natalie Miller took second in the state in the long jump
last year, qualified in the 200 and anchored the winning
sprint medley relay team. Senior Melissa Slater is back
from the state-qualifying 4x100 team and Lynn Fuhrmeister
went to state in the shot put and discus.
Top
freshmen include Caitlin Wilkinson and Dana Manternach
in the middle distance, Quinn Morelock in the throwing
events and sprints, Lauren Slater in the high jump and
middle distance and Channing Connell in the long sprints.
Tipton
Coach:
Dave Federman (30th season).
2001
finish: 4th EIHC
Returning
letterwinners (7): Katie Wagner, sr.; Megan Mathias, jr.;
Kaylee Kotz, so.; Tracy Fell, sr.; Danielle Chapman, sr.;
Brandi Weih, jr.; Jackie Reichart, jr.
Outlook:
The Tigers gained some confidence in the fall, winning
the state cross country title. Freshman Carrie Larson
took fifth place, but will concentrate on middle distance
events in track. Classmate Steph King took 14th at state
cross country and will handle the longer events. Junior
Brandi Weih went to state in the throwing events. Tipton
has traditionally had strong sprinters, but it may be
a area of weakness this year, coach Dave Federman said.
But middle distance depth should lead to strength in the
long relays. Freshmen Ashton McNutt and Megan Corkery
will bolster the middle distances.
West
Branch
Coach:
Harlan Ferguson (3rd season).
2001
finish: 3rd EIHC.
Returning
letterwinners (11): Amanda Gerig-Sickels, sr.; Chelsee
Worrell, sr.; LeAnn Woods, jr.; Emily Hahn, jr.; Kelli
Hinkhouse, jr.; Jessica Liebergen, jr.; Rachel Stoolman,
jr.; Brittney Zimmerman, so.; Shantelle Duwa, so.; Karli
Hoff, so.; Marlene Nash, so.
Outlook:
The Bears took eighth at the state meet last year, but
lost some talented athletes. Distance star Karen Johnson
graduated and hurdler Michelle Pelzer transferred to West
Liberty. LeAnn Woods qualified in the high jump and returns.
Jessica Liebergen took seventh in the long jump.
Several
talented newcomers could fill some holes, however. Distance
runner Katie Lumpa ran for City High's cross country team
last fall. Other freshmen are distance runner Monica Clements,
middle distance runners Mandi Worrell and Jess Paulsen
and sprinters Sam Stoolman and Lindsey Deets.
"We're
going to be better in the field events," coach Harlan
Ferguson said. "I think by the end of the season we can
be as strong as last year. But we're not there by a long
ways, yet."
West
Liberty
Coach:
Dennis Riley (19th season)
2001
finish: 9th EIHC
Returning
letterwinners (14): Shawn Carter, so.; Michelle Pelzer,
so.; Maria Montagna, jr.; Amy Morrison, so.; Jessica Lambert,
jr.; Kalen Hillyer, sr.; Katie Lemkau, so.; Kelsie Wiele,
so.; Colleen Campbell, jr.; Andrea Hull, jr.; Sarah Bothell,
jr.; Heidi Haessig, sr.; Elizabeth Allen, sr.; Jessica
Brown, so.
Outlook:
The Comets look to be stronger with strength coming from
the middle distance, hurdles and field events. Maria Montagna
took third in the high jump at state her freshman year,
but sat out last season with an injury. Michelle Pelzer
returned to West Liberty after a year at West Branch,
where she qualified for state in the 100 hurdles and helped
the Bears take second in the shuttle hurdle relay. Kalen
Hillyer went to state in the 800.
Other
Belles include freshmen Samantha Black (middle distance,
long jump), Ashley Martin (sprints/hurdles), Cathy Lambert
(shot/discus), Hannah Butler (shot/discus), sophomore
Jennifer Davis (middle distance) and senior Natalie Duran
(sprints).
Williamsburg
Coach:
Bill Neal (11th season)
2001
finish: 1st EIHC.
Returning
letterwinners (22): Andria Marlin, sr.; Angela Murley,
sr.; Stacie Onken, sr.; Jenna Spratt, sr.; Shelon Stanerson,
sr.; Beth Braden, jr.; Brittni Ealy, jr.; Angela Hall,
jr.; Jenni Himmelsbach, jr.; Abby Jones, jr.; Jessica
Koschmeder, jr.; Michaela Malloy, jr.; Jill Martin, jr.;
Michelle Mullnix, jr.; Ashlinn Newberry, jr.; Brittany
Pope, jr.; Carla Stochl, jr.; Ashley Trimpe, jr.; Melanie
Wallace, jr.; Kiley White, jr.; Jessica Zimmerman, jr.,
Terran Wertz, so.
Outlook:
The Raiders took second place at the state meet for the
fourth consecutive year last season, and notched their
ninth-straight conference title, dating back to their
days in the South Iowa Cedar League. Although they lost
six state-qualifying seniors, they should be counted on
to compete at a high level once again.
Williamsburg
recruited 68 girls for track this spring, making depth
a dead issue. Abby Jones anchored three relays at state
last year and Terran Wertz was second in the 3,000 and
third in the 1,500. Only Shelon Stanerson returns from
the traditionally strong shuttle hurdle relay team.
Coach
Bill Neal said sprints lack experience, but field events
will be strong with Angela Murley returning as top thrower.
Jones and Diana Meyer will long jump and Andria Marlin
leads the high jump.
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