Girl's Track Preview

Coach: Matt Stegmaier, 8th year

Last year: 4th in Northwestern District meet.

Key loss: Taje Usher.

Top returning athletes: Morgan Craig, Sr., hurdles; Amber Hawkins, Sr., distance; Katie Houser, Soph., jumps; Sarah Johnson, So., throws; Laura Seymour, Jr., jumps/sprints.

Newcomers: Becca Ferrulli, Fr., jumps/sprints; Princess Sales, Fr., sprints; Noelle Schoeman, Fr., hurdles.

Outlook: Stegmaier’s boys’ teams won three consecutive district titles from 2009-11, but his girls’ teams have never had quite enough depth to make serious noise in the district. Stegmaier feels this year’s girls’ team is different though.

“I have high expectation for them,” Stegmaier said. “We usually just have one or two really good girls who lead us, but this is the first year where we think we can score points in every single area. We’re encouraged as a coaching staff about what our girls can do. We’re going to put up a fight this year.”

Though promising sprinter Usher, just a sophomore, has moved out of the area, Hawkins and Houser — who is being treated carefully because of some ankle issues — each has the potential to win state championships.

Hawkins likely would have fared well in the 800 at the state meet as well if the condensed format because of weather hadn’t prevented her from running it. But on Saturday, she opened the year with a 2:24.20 to win the 800 and 5:15.14 to win the 1,600 at the Brian Watkins I-95 Invitational at Brooke Point HighSchool.

Stegmaier is also looking forward to seeing what Johnson can do after qualifying for states in the discus last year, and he believes the Colonels should be able to put together strong relay teams.