Girls’ Track Preview

Posted: March 24, 2014

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI

WINCHESTER — The area track and field scene has seen some pretty talented girls’ hurdlers come through in the last decade.

Handley’s Ayla Smith captured state titles in the 100- hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles as a senior in 2006, breaking a state record in the 300 hurdles that had stood since 1985. She went on to star at the University of Virginia before qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Millbrook’s Schavon Springer (formerly Hinds) compiled six top-seven state finishes in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles outdoors from 2007-09 in Group AA, with a high of second in the 100 hurdles in 2008. Clarke County’s Caitlyn Lake won a Group A state title in the 100 hurdles in 2010, then added a third-place state finish in that event in 2012.

In 2013, Handley’s Lisa Meneau left an indelible mark in Virginia hurdling history, winning her second straight Group AA 300 hurdles state title by breaking Smith’s state record, and winning her first 100 hurdles state title. Meneau — who totaled six top-three state finishes outdoors in the two hurdles events from 2010-13 — is now competing for the University of Maryland.

That’s just naming a few top hurdlers over the years. And while Meneau’s shoes are pretty big ones to fill, a couple of area juniors in McKenzie Schrank (Millbrook) and Angelique Matthews (Sherando) figure to keep the area’s tradition of excellence in the hurdles going.

As a sophomore, Schrank placed sixth in Group AA in the 300 hurdles in 47.32 seconds to improve on her ninth-place finish as a freshman.

In the 100 hurdles, Matthews barely missed qualifying for the eight-girl finals, taking ninth with a time of 16.59 (her best time of the year was 16.08). Schrank — who placed eighth in Group AA in the 100 hurdles as a freshman — placed 12th in that event at last year’s state meet and had a top time of 15.95 for the year.

Though it appears as if there will be some strong hurdlers dropping down from the old Group AAA into Group 4A, Schrank and Matthews look to be about the two best hurdlers coming back from last year’s Group AA state meet and definitely have a chance for higher finishes in their events.

“The new classifications have made the state-level hurdles and sprints, in particular, stronger than they have been in years past,” Millbrook coach Kevin Shirk said. “With that said, I view [Schrank] as being potentially in the top 3-5 in the state in the 300 [hurdles]. [Her goal] will be set on hitting the qualifying times for the state meet, then setting our goals on specific finishes.”

Sherando coach Tom Grim is enthused about what Matthews can do.

“She had the second best time in school history in the 100 hurdles last year,” Grim said. “We’re looking for big things out of her this year, and she can definitely be in the state finals.”

The area will feature several other talented athletes who could make a mark at the state level in this, the first year of the Virginia High School League’s six-classification system.

James Wood, Millbrook and Sherando will be grouped in Conference 21 of the Group 4A North Region along with Dominion (fifth in Region II last year), Heritage (fourth), Loudoun County, Park View (first) and Woodgrove.

Handley will be in Conference 23 of the 4A North with Charlottesville (third in Region II last year), Fluvanna, Louisa County (second), Amherst County and Harrisonburg.

In these conferences, the top eight finishers in each individual event and top three relays will move on to the 4A North Region meet.

For all regions in all groups across the state, the top six finishers in each event, as well as those meeting qualifying standards, will move on to the state meets.

Matthews’ Sherando teammate Alaina Combs, a senior, is another that figures to place high in the state after taking sixth in Group AA in the discus and 12th in shot put last year. Combs — who won both events at the Northwestern District meet last year — figures to get a strong push from her sophomore sister Allison this year.

The throwing events are a source of strength throughout the area.

Clarke County — which will be in Conference 35 of the Group 2A East Region with Madison County, George Mason, Strasburg, Stonewall Jackson, Luray and Page County — features senior Michelle Yates, whose top shot put mark of 36 feet, 71/2 inches last year was 17 inches better than anyone in Winchester-Frederick County. Yates placed third in Group A last year and was Bull Run District champion.

James Wood’s efforts this year will be led by two throwers in junior Sarah Johnson and sophomore Grace Greene, each of whom has qualified for the state meet during their careers.

James Wood will need big performances from people like Johnson and Greene because of two huge departures. Distance runner Amber Hawkins is now running for the University of Houston, and junior jumper Katie Houser — who’s verbally committed to play volleyball for Notre Dame — is not competing after missing the fall volleyball season with an injury.

In addition to Schrank, Millbrook will also count on Winchester Star Girls’ Cross Country runner of the year Nadia Dahimene — the district champion in the 3,200 last year — and jumper Mia VanderToorn.

Handley won’t be able to replace Meneau, but sophomore Alysandra Worrell is coming off a standout debut season that saw her win the district titles in the 100, 200 and 400. After struggling with injuries a year ago, senior Ashden Personius will look to finish her career strong — she was the only area girl to earn all-state honors at the Group 4A state indoor meet, taking sixth in the 3,200. Basketball player Angelica Robinson will also come out for the track team for the first time.

For Clarke County, it will be difficult to have the type of year that it had last year when the Eagles tied for the Bull Run District meet title with Manassas Park. The Eagles lost four Winchester Star all-area selections from that team.

At the Conference 35 meet, the top six individuals and top three relays in each event, as well as those meeting regional standards, will move on from the conference to the region meet.

The following is a glance at each area team:

Handley

Coach: Mike McKiernan, 3rd year

Last year: Northwestern District meet champions; 5th in Region II; 7th in Group AA.

Key losses: Lisa Meneau, Semefa Tettegah, Kiarra Myers.

Top returning athletes: Alysandra Worrell, So., sprints/jumps; Ashden Personius, Sr., distance; Candace Nelson, Sr., distance; Rachel Dodson, Sr., middle distance/jumps; Abby Swartz, Jr., distance; Melanie Canfield, jumps; Miriah Smith, Jr., jumps; Alexis Zygmunt, Jr., hurdles/throws.

Key newcomers: Angelica Robinson, So., sprints/jumps; Nicole King, Fr., distance; Alisa Dayo, Fr., distance; Maddie Woodson, Jr., sprints/jumps; Olivia Dickens-Bowman, Fr., sprints/hurdles/jumps; Chyanna Jones, Sr., sprints/hurdles/jumps; Maya Mintschenko, Fr., hurdles/jumps; Destiny Dokes, Fr., sprints/jumps.

McKiernan’s outlook: “I think we’ll be an OK big meet team, but we’ll be better in duals. I think we can score in a number of events. Alysandra’s got a lot of speed, and if we can give her sound technique, I think she can also be a strong hurdler. Ashden’s got a lot of potential if she’s healthy.”

Opener: at Woodberry Forest Invitational, April 5

Sherando

Coach: Tom Grim, 15th year

Last year: 2nd in Northwestern District meet; 4th in Region II.

Key losses: Candice Banks, Nisha Moore, Rachel Dixon, McKayla Jackson (transferred to Skyline).

Top returning athletes: Alaina Combs, Sr., throws; Angelique Mathews, Jr., hurdles/jumps; Allison Combs, So. throws; Laurel Morton, Jr., jumps/sprints; Andi Crosby, Jr., distance; Rosa Gibson, Sr., distance; Katie Rogers, Jr., distance; Haley Powers, Jr., distance.

Key newcomer: Davina Lane, Fr., sprints/hurdles/jumps.

Grim’s outlook: “Alaina and Allison are going to be consistent scorers for us in the throws. Laurel should do well for us in the jumps, and I think Davina should be able to make an impact right away. We should be strong in the conference for girls.”

Opener: at Cave Spring Invitational, Saturday

James Wood

Coach: Matt Stegmaier, 9th year

Last year: 3rd in Northwestern District meet; tied for 11th in Region II.

Key losses: Amber Hawkins, Katie Houser, Morgan Craig.

Top returning athletes: Grace Greene, So. throws; Sarah Johnson, Jr., throws, Brittany Arnold, Sr., distance; Princess Sales, So., sprints; Becca Ferulli, So., sprints/jumps; Amanda Funk, Jr., hurdles.

Key newcomers: Sophia Dorsey., Fr., distance; Maria Harter, Fr., distance; Kara Norman, Fr., sprints/jumps; Hannah Cavanagh, Fr., throws.

Stegmaier’s outlook: “The throwers are a special group. Grace and Sarah, along with Logan Shiffler on the boys’ team, are great role models for our young throwers. We’ve lost some good people in the jumping events, so that’s up in the air. But that’s just an opportunity for the young girls to step up and score some points.”

Opener: at Mountain View Invitational, Saturday

Millbrook

Coach: Kevin Shirk, 3rd year

Last year: 4th in Northwestern District meet; 21st in Region II.

Key losses: Alyson Conchar, Katrin Schneider, Nitya Sharma.

Top returning athletes: McKenzie Schrank, Jr., hurdles; Nadia Dahimene, So., distance; Mia VanderToorn, Jr., jumps; Lindsay Lockhart, So., throws; Kelley Wyatt, Jr., throws; Hannah Strosnyder, Sr., jumps.

Key newcomers: Ashley Bigler, Fr., jumps/hurdles; Angela Reimer, Fr., throws; Octavia Sharp, Fr., throws; Liz McDonald, So., jumps/middle distance; Kali Kramer, Jr., jumps.

Shirk’s outlook: “Our strength is primarily that we have a few high-point scorers in McKenzie Schrank, Nadia Dahimene and Mia VanderToorn. We also have a relatively new and young team who will have to step up and fill in the gaps, especially in relays in sprints. I’m looking forward to seeing what our newcomers can contribute. With so many new people, it’s tough to put a team expectation out there so early, so we will be learning as we go and constantly setting and adjusting goals as the season progresses.”

Opener: at Mountain View Invitational, Saturday

Clarke County

Coach: Andre Kidrick, 8th year

Last year: Bull Run District meet co-champions; 4th in Region B; 9th in Group A.

Key losses: Ammie Levi, Miles Crosby, Delia Condon, Channing Alsberry, Natalie Flagg, Amanda Spain.

Top returning athletes: Michelle Yates, Sr., throws; Emily Snyder, Sr., distance/hurdles; Amy Legare, Sr., distance, Alex Harden, Sr., distance; Erin Hall, Sr., jumps; Eve Lettau, Jr., jumps; Allegra Eyles, So., jumps/sprints; Mackenzie Kibler, Jr., distance.

Key newcomers: Javonna Lansdown, Fr., throws/sprints; Sophia Biddle-Snead, Fr., distance.

Kidrick’s outlook: “We lost a lot of contributors from last year’s team. We’ve got a young team. About half of them are sophomores or freshmen. We’ll just have to see what happens when the gun goes off. [Yates] is working her butt off and has a shot at a state title. Javonna Lansdown is a great athlete, and we’re just trying to push her to get the most out of her.”

Opener: at Central meet, Saturday

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on Twitter @WinStarSports1