When Clarke County High School won its first-ever girls’ track & field state championship in 2008, the Eagles followed up by repeating as Group A champions in 2009.
In 2025, the Clarke County girls won their first state championship since 2009. And while the Eagles lost their two most vaiuable athletes from that squad to graduation, Clarke County might just have the pieces in place to make another run at a Class 2 state championship under new head coach Gary Wymer. A 23-year assistant, Wymer takes over for Andre Kidrick, who led the Eagles to five girls’ and boys’ state track championships in 18 seasons.
The Eagles lost some irreplaceable athletes from their 2025 championship team — which scored 64 points to runner-up Lee’s 56.5 at the Class 2 meet at James Madison Unversity — and also won the Region 2B and Bull Run District titles.
Winchester Star Track & Field Athlete of the Year Teya Starley was the state champion in the 800, runner-up in the 1,600 and anchored the 4×400 team to a state title. Reagan Myer (now at NCAA Division II Babson College) scored nine state points in the 200 and triple jump and ran on the 4X400 team and the state runner-up 4×100 team. Clarke County also lost Molly Husted (third in the 3,200, ran on the state runner-uo 4×800 team), who is now at NCAA Division III Geneva College.
But this year’s Eagles features plenty of returners who experienced state success in track last year, and several newcomers who have proven themselves at the state level in other sports.
Junior Grace Gerenski is back after placing fourth in the 400 in 1:01.68. She also ran on the 4×400 team and 4×100 team. The Eagles also bring back the area’s top returning discus thrower in junior Haley Foltz (105-7), who placed 10th in Class 2. She was also eighth in Region 2B in the shot put.
Three other members of Clarke County’s highly successful relay pool return in sophomore Kenedy Money (4×100) and juniors Emma Husted and Mia Timberlake (both 4×800).
Senior Emmalene Morris did not compete in track last year but she was on the 4×100 team that placed eighth in 2024. Morris (best mark of 5 feet) also tied for seventh in Class 2 in the high jump in 2024. In Region 2B, she was second in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the 200 as a sophomore.
Clarke County’s newcomers include two of the best runners from the Eagles’ state runner-up cross country team (Lyla Gerenski and Maggie Myer) and two members of the state champion basketball team (Paige Stemberger and Eryn Demko). Demko and Myer are two of four varsity soccer players (The Eagles were state finalists last year in that sport) who will pull double duty on the track team along with Isabel Aliveto, a junior who has earned All-State honors the last two years for two state semifinalist volleyball teams, and sophomore Zoe Brown. Kidrick lamented that Brown did not run track last year after setting the 100- and 200-meter school records at Johnson-Williams Middle School.
The area’s Class 4 schools will return plenty of top talent as well.
In Class 4, James Wood is coming off an exceptional year in which the Northwestern District champions placed second in Region 4D to two-time defending outdoor state champion Blacksburg. The Colonels also placed second in this year’s indoor region meet to the Bruins, who went on to capture their second straight indoor state title.
The Colonels are led by senior Kate Konyar, who will run for NCAA Division I University of Maryland next year. Konyar won the Class 4 3,200 state title last year and was the area’s fastest runner in that event (10:57.96) and the 1,600 (5:11.77), placing sixth in Class 4 in the latter event. Konyar has since lowered her top 3,200 time to 10:47.82, which she ran to take second at this year’s indoor state meet.
James Wood also features junior Erin Link (eighth in Class 4 in shot put; area’s best mark of 36-0.25); senior Isabelle French (10th in Class 4 in 100 hurdles; posted area’s best time in 100 hurdles in 16.18 and No. 2 time in 300 hurdles in 50.52); and senior Alina Kieffer (10th in Class 4 in 3,200; posted area’s No. 3 time in 3,200 in 11:34.94; will run for NCAA Division I Longwood).
Millbrook (fifth in Region 4D, sixth in Class 4 state) loses one of the most decorated track athletes in program history in Jada Arrington. Now at NCAA Division I Norfolk State, Arrington holds school records in the 100, 200 and 400 and had 11 top-six state finishes in state competition in the 100, 200 and 400.
The Pioneers do return a state champion in junior Janai Washington. She captured the high jump with the area’s best mark of 5-4 last year and placed third in that event at this year’s indoor state meet (5-2). Also a sprinter, Washington placed fourth in Class 2 in the 200 last year (season personal record of 25.10 in state prelims) and was a state qualifier in the 400, an event in which she had the area’s third-fastest time (1:00.51). Washington placed eighth in the 55 in this year’s indoor state meet. Washington and senior Ella Mannarino return from Millbrook’s state runner-up 4×400 team.
Sherando (fourth in Region 4D) will be led by senior Mercedes Silver. Last year, she posted the area’s best mark in the 300 hurdles (47.08) and placed 14th in Class 4; had the No. 2 mark in the high jump (5-2) and qualified for the state meet; and had the No. 3 mark in the long junp (16-6.5). Silver placed fifth at the indoor state track meet this year in the high jump with a mark of 5-2.
Sophomore Emma Messick has transferred from James Wood to Sherando. She ranked second in the area among discus throwers last year (104-11) and placed 10th in Class 4.
Like Millbrook, Handley (seventh in Region 4D) lost one of its all-time greats to graduation in Emeryce Worrell, The Winchester Star’s Girls’ Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2024. The school record holder in the 100 and 200, Worrell won a state title in the 100 as a junior as part of her four career top-three state finishes in the 100 and 200, but didn’t compete in those events at states last year because of the Region 4D championship game soccer conflict.
The Judges still feature an elite sprinter in EJ Mullins. The junior posted the area’s best mark in the 400 (57.02) and No. 3 mark in the 200 (25.09) last year. At last year’s state meet, she was 16th in the 400 and the No. 5 seed in the 200, but did not participate in the latter event.
Handley’s newcomers include senior Reagan Edsell, the basketball star who will play for NCAA Division I James Madison University next year. She will compete as a sprinter and thrower.
The four Winchester-Frederick County schools open their seasons on Wednesday at James Wood. Clarke County begins its season on Friday at the Doc Jopson Invitational at Bridgewater College.
The following is a glance at each area team:
Clarke County
Coach: Gary Wymer, first season.
Last year: Class 2 state, Region 2B and Bull Run District champions.
Key losses: Teya Starley, Molly Husted, Reagan Myer, Abigail Cochran, Kendall Harman.
Key returnees: Grace Gerenski, Jr., sprinter/jumper; Mia Timberlake Jr., distance; Emma Husted, Jr., distance; Kenedy Money, so., sprinter/jumper; Haley Foltz, Jr., thrower; Morgan LaMaster, Jr., thrower; Emmalene Morris, Sr., sprinter/jumper.
Key newcomers: Lyla Gerenski, Fr., distance/jumps; Zoe Brown, So., sprints; Isabel Alveto, Jr., sprints; Eryn Demko, Sr., sprints; Maggie Myer, Fr., distance; Paige Stemberger, Sr., sprints/jumps.
Wymer’s outlook: “We hope to continue to build off of and defend our state title last season. While we lost some vital pieces, we are excited to see how well other members and newcomers step up for this season. Lyla Gerenski is also a newcomer that we feel will make an immediate impact. She improved throughout the entire cross country season and continues to work hard every day. Emmalene Morris is an athlete that is returning after taking a season off. We are excited to see what she will be capable of.”
James Wood
Coach: Danielle Koelker, second season.
Last year: Second in Region 4D; tied for 11th in Class 4 state; Northwestern District champions.
Key losses: Ruby Ostrander, Olivia Boyce, Omaie Aarami, Emma Messick (transferred to Sherando).
Key returnees: Kate Konyar, Sr., distance; Alina Kieffer, Sr., distance; Lauren Thompson, Sr., distance; Katelyn Palmer, Sr., distance; Ally Oliver, Jr. distance; Isabelle French, Sr,, hurdles/jumps; Alexandra Van Meter, Sr., hurdles/jumps (3rd in area in 100 hurdles, 17.78); Alexis Brown, Jr., sprints; Sierra-Nicole Wimer, So., sprints; Mallory Juvinall, Sr., sprints; Melanie Padilla, So., sprints; Erin Link, Jr., throws; Dayana Jackson, Jr., throws (3rd in area in shot put, 31-7.75).
Key newcomers: Emerson Hart, So., distance; Grace Dawson, Fr., distance; Emma Costa, Fr., hurdles/jumps; Jordan Bowes, Fr., hurdles/jumps; Nori Cook, Fr, throws.
Koelker’s outlook: “I know we have a good bit of talent on the girls’ side, and I’m confident that they will perform well. This season I’m also really looking at who we have as far as new talent and how we can develop them in their respective events. We have 14 seniors on the girls’ side, so there are a lot of shoes to fill once this senior class graduates. After a successful indoor season for the girls, I’m really excited to see how that will translate to outdoor. Most girls are returning from indoor, plus we have some girls who are returning from outdoor last year.
“We have many strong individuals with a lot of potential to put everything together and do well as a team. Melanie Padilla has already stepped up this season and shown a lot of leadership and work ethic. Claire Snell also is very naturally talented and once she continues to train this season, I’m sure she’ll see quite a few personal records.”
Millbrook
Coach: Jamie McCarty, third season.
Last year: Fifth in Region 4D; sixth in Class 4 state.
Key losses: Jada Arrington, Savannah Florek, Jillian Taylor, Essence O’Banion.
Key returnees: Janai Washington, Jr., jumps, sprints; Caydence Bayne, Sr., middle distance; Adilyn Steinmetz, So., middle distance; Ella Mannarino, Sr., sprints; Marisol Lara, So., distance; Keri Hecker, Sr., jumps; Aubrey Steinmetz, So., distance; Rowan McCullough, Sr., sprints.
Key newcomers: Everleigh Mannarino, Fr., sprints; Sophia Baer, Fr., sprints; Kennedy McCullough, Fr., throws.
McCarty’s outlook: “We feel like we can compete with anyone on a top-tier-talent basis. Replacing Jada and Savannah will be tough, but we have some new and younger girls that we hope can develop with time. As always with us our weakness is our lack of depth. We are hoping that we can be a top-three team in the region. That will be tough, but it is the challenge we have made to the team. We have multiple freshmen and several other newcomers that have been making progress. We hope that down the road they will be able to step into more prominent roles.”
Sherando
Coach: Brad Symons, fourth season.
Last year: Fourth in Region 4D; tied for 28th in Class 4 state.
Key losses: Farren Crist, Cassidy Crittenden, Gracie Defibaugh, McKenna Hardy, Arianna Stafford.
Key returnees: Mia Adams, Jr., distance; Hannah Beck, Jr., throws/jumps; Kalysta Falls, Jr., hurdles/sprints (second in area in 100 hurdles, 16.66); Savannah Judy, Sr., throws; Thema Nyarko, Sr., throws; Aariya Pun Magar, Jr., throws; Mercedes Silver, Sr., jumps/hurdles; Shelby Willett, So., sprints/jumps.
Key newcomers: Loraine Goka, Fr., sprints/jumps; Kaylah Houston, So., sprints/jumps; Estella Ilnicki, Fr., sprints/jumps; Emma Messick, So., throws (transfer from James Wood); Blake Sheppard, Fr., sprints/jumps; Lily Smith, Fr., sprints/jumps; Callie Walters, Fr., throws.
Symons’ outlook: “We will be competitive as a team this year. We’re looking for improvement and growth over the season. We will need to build some depth and work on improving areas of the team. Mercedes Silver is coming off a good indoor season in the high jump and we are looking for big things in her senior season.”
Handley
Coach: Lloyd Phillips, second season.
Last year: Seventh in Region 4D.
Key losses: Emeryce Worrell, Elisabeth Pitcock.
Key returnees: EJ Mullins, Jr., sprints; Monet Thomas, Sr., sprints; Keila De La O Granado, Jr., sprints; Leilah Ferrel, Jr., sprints; Ella Warren, Sr., distance; Janiya Ferris, Sr., hurdles; Sage Welpott, Jr., distance; Seneca Welpott, Jr., distance; Audrey Rinker, Jr., distance; Bella Hines, So., jumps/hurdles (3rd in area in 300 hurdles, 51.14); Amaya Smith, Sr., jumps/throws; Jordan Coates, Sr., sprints/throws.
Key newcomers: Reagan Edsell, Sr., sprints/throws; Maliyah Hines, Fr., sprints/jumps; Cloy Cain, Fr., throws; Charlotte Thomsen, Fr., distance; Eleanor Miller, Fr., distance.
Phillips’ outlook: “The overall expectation for the team is to improve each week. We have a lot of new young talent out this year for track, which is exciting. I think we can have a really solid year if we focus and work on getting better each day. A lot of our girls have made big improvements during the indoor season, which I think will help us for outdoor season.”
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
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