Girls' Track Preview: Star power returns for area teams

James Wood’s Rene Rosso competed against Lane in most of those events last year, and the senior and NCAA Division I Mount St. Mary’s signee is back after earning all-state honors in five events last spring. She was third in the triple jump (37 feet, 8 inches), fourth in the 100 hurdles (her best time last year was 14.87 seconds), fifth in the 300 hurdles (46.75), sixth in the long jump (17-31/2 inches) and tied for sixth in the high jump (her best mark was 5-4). Rosso had the area’s best mark in the triple jump and ranked second in the area in each of the other four events.

James Wood lost two of the area’s best field performers in thrower Hannah Cavanagh and jumper Emma Hammond, but Rosso is not the only all-state athlete that will be on this year’s Colonels team.

Sophomore Kenzie Konyar placed eighth in the Class 4 state meet in the 3,200 meters with an 11:29.59, the area’s best time. The two-time Winchester Star Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year also had the area’s second best time in the 1,600 last year (5:28.05).

Handley’s Beard has won the indoor high jump state title in each of her three high school years, and last year she won her first outdoor state title in the high jump.

Beard has continued to improve. Her personal-best last year was a 5-83/4 that earned her 10th at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. This winter — which ended with her tying for fourth to earn All-American honors at the New Balance Indoor Nationals — saw Beard improve her PR to 5-9, which she achieved at the Virginia Showcase at Liberty University on Jan. 20.

Beard also showed last spring she’s more than just a high jumper. At the Conference 21 West meet, she was second in the 300 hurdles and 200 and third in the triple jump. Beard ranked second in the area in the 200 (26.89) and third in the 300 hurdles (47.86).

Beard’s senior teammate Casey Nelson will look to claim a state title of her own this year. Nelson took second in the state in the shot put last year, a season that saw her post the area’s best marks in that event (39-61/2) and the discus (116-8). Nelson was third in the Class 4 state meet in the shot put this winter.

Handley also features the area’s top 800 runner from 2017 — senior Kristin Blake (2:23.09) who was 12th in the state meet.

The Judges also feature freshman Mary McKay, who is coming off a standout indoor season in which she had the fourth-fastest preliminary time at the state meet in the 55 meters (a school-record 7.42 seconds). She also placed eighth in the state in the pole vault (10-0).

While Sherando lost Lane, the Warriors showed in the winter that they could be a force this spring. At the Class 4 Northwestern District indoor meet, Sherando took second to Fauquier. The Falcons also had the highest finish among district schools at this year’s indoor region meet (second) and last year’s outdoor region meet (third).

Sherando senior Donzailya Berg is coming off an indoor season in which she placed seventh in the 55 hurdles to earn all-state honors. Berg was third in the area in the 100 hurdles last year (16.64) and tied for third in the high jump (5-1).

Sherando’s distance crew features 2017 Conference 21 West champions Stella Williams (1,600; had area’s fastest time of 5:26.18) and Olivia Couillard (3,200; ranked second in area with an 11:36.82).

Millbrook also boasts a strong distance crew, which is led by senior Mellany Groll (the area’s No. 2 runner in the 800 at 2:25.66) and junior Kaycee Cox-Philyaw, who had the area’s No. 3 time in the 800 (2:25.95) and 1,600 (5:30.49) last year.

In the Bull Run District, Clarke County’s returnees include junior Madison Webster, who had the area’s third fastest time in the 3,200 last year (11:56.87). Webster placed sixth in Class 2 in that event.

Webster, junior Skylar Bragg (eighth in Class 2 in the 3,200) and senior Catherine Lewis (sixth in the 800) were all on last year’s Clarke County 4x800 team, which took third at the state meet.

Two other returning all-state individual performers for the Eagles are senior Madison McLean (third in the long jump) and sophomore Elizabeth Wallace (sixth in the 300 hurdles).

The following is a glance at each area team. Roster information and outlook statements are provided by coaches:

Sherando

Head coach: Jamie McCarty, second year.

Last season: Conference 21 West champions, 6th in 4A West Region, 5th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Davina Lane, Ania Summers.

Top returning athletes: Donzailya Berg, Sr., jumps/hurdles, Kaitlyn Roberts, Jr., sprints; Camryn Ubert, Jr., distance; Olivia Couillard, Jr., distance; Stella Williams, Jr., distance.

Top newcomers: Bella Entsminger, Fr., jumps; Indyha Hayes, Fr., sprints; Molly Robinson, Fr., distance; Haley Mack, Fr., sprints.

McCarty’s outlook: “We are pleased with our turnout and have a lot of young girls out this year, but we feel like as they gain experience, we will become a more competitive team. We should be solid in the distance races, but will be looking for more depth and contributions in the sprints/mid-distances.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

James Wood

Head coach: Mike Onda, first year.

Last season: 2nd in Conference 21 West, 8th in Region 4A West, 6th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Hannah Cavanagh, Ashanti Day, Sophia Dorsey, Emma Hammond, Maria Harter, Kara Norman, Dy’Avean Sloane.

Top returning athletes: Rhiannon Bradford, Jr., sprints/middle distance; Mazie Clark, Sr., throws; Kiara Gilkerson, Sr. sprints/middle distance (3rd in the area in the 400 last year, 1:03.24); Jennie Kerns, So., sprints; Kenzie Konyar, So., distance; Rene Rosso, Sr., hurdles/jumps/sprints; Haley Witt, Jr., distance.

Top newcomers: Kendall Pierce, So., jumps, distance; Riley Rose, Fr., middle distance; Audrey Sandy, Fr., distance; Brooke Sandy, Fr., jumps.

Onda’s outlook: “Although we did lose some excellent athletes to graduation, we do have some talent returning, and we’re encouraged by what we’re seeing out of the new athletes. We had a good indoor track and field season, which has prepared those participants for the outdoor season. The girls’ team has been working hard preparing for our first meet, and we’re looking forward to seeing how close we can come to repeating the success of the past few years.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

Handley

Head coach: Mike McKiernan, seventh year.

Last season: 4th in Conference 21 West, 12th in 4A West Region, 13th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Mya Mintschenko.

Top newcomers: Mary McKay, Fr., sprints/pole vault.

McKiernan’s outlook: “We should be competitive in big meets as we have some strong performers. We have quality athletes in all events, so we should be able to compete most places. We may have difficulty in dual meets due to having only 25 to 30 girls [on the team].”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

Millbrook

Head coach: Kevin Shirk, seventh year.

Last season: 5th in Conference 21 West, 21st in 4A West Region.

Key losses: Lauren Banks (transferred out of area, ranked third in area in 100 and 200 last year), Beth Trumm, Ashley Bigler.

Top returning athletes: Mellany Groll, Sr. middle distance; Kaycee Cox-Philyaw, Jr., middle distance; Sarah Purdy, So., jumps/hurdles (tied for 3rd in the area in the high jump last year, 5-1); Ava Derrick, Jr., jumps; Hope Hawthorne. Jr., throws; Lindsay Greer, Sr., throws.

Top newcomers: Hailey Paige, Jr. jumps/sprints; Kaitlyn Brocious, Fr., throws; Shannon Mulvaney, So., middle distance; Ali Hauck, So., distance; Emily Magee, So., distance.

Shirk’s outlook: “We return a solid group of girls in several event areas and hope that some of our new girls can fill the spaces in other events. We will field a strong group of mid-distance and distance runners, as well as a solid group in the jumps. Most of our top girls put in good indoor seasons and are looking forward to seeing the hard work pay off into the outdoor season.”

First meet: April 11 in Class 4 Northwestern District mini at Sherando

Clarke County

Head coach: Andre Kidrick, 12th year.

Last season: 2nd in Conference 35, 7th in 2A East Region, tied for 8th at Class 2 state meet.

Key losses: Jayla Stephenson, Emma Jenkins, Morgan Withers, Natalie Lyman.

Top returning athletes: Madison McLean, Sr., jumps/sprints; Elizabeth Wallace, So., hurdles/sprints/jumps; Becky Roberts, Sr., sprints/jumps; Madison Webster, Jr., distance; Skylar Bragg, Jr., distance; Catherine Lewis, Sr. distance.

Top newcomers: Sara Wenzel, So., sprints/hurdles/jumps; Heather See, Fr., sprints/jumps.

Kidrick’s outlook: “Even though we return a large group of contributors, we graduated many of our leaders and point earners from last season. We are looking at this group of returning athletes to step up as leaders and help to direct our new athletes in a positive direction. We have many new additions to our team that will contribute and develop into competitive CCHS track athletes. We, as coaches, are excited to see who steps up and fills the positions that were left by our graduating seniors.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

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