Girls track and field 2009: Team capsules, plus top teams and athletes to watch

Paul Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram

TEAMS TO WATCH

Westlake

Led by Bridget McNeill and Kalpana Beach, the Demons go for their second Southwestern Conference title in three years.

Avon

Second at 2008 Division II districts, Eagles have top-grade talent in nearly all events.

Amherst

Could be ready to turn the corner. Stay tuned.

GIRLS TO WATCH

Kelsey Barnes, Bay

Blazing finish at end of last year culminating in a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters at the Division II state meet.

Kalpana Beach, Westlake

Despite battling injuries, took fifth in the Division I state high jump and set a school record along the way.

Bridget Doughty, Bay

Second at the 2008 state meet in the 100-meter hurdles, she matched her sister, Rachel, who was second in 2007.

Bridget McNeil, Westlake

Two-time defending Southwestern Conference discus champ and two-time state qualifier, fifth at the state last year.

Katie Nageotte, Olmsted Falls

Missed the top spot in the 2008 Division I state pole vault by only a tiebreaker, clearing 12-4.

Brianna Shaw, Clearview

Injury slowed her last year, but she’s aiming for her third trip to state in the 800 meters.

Brittany Snider, Olmsted Falls

Two-time state qualifier in high jump.

Alexis Washington, Southview

Two-time regional qualifier in the 100 and 200, anchored Saints’ 400 relay at the 2007 state meet.

TEAM CAPSULES

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Westlake Demons

COACH: Duane Miller (23rd year, also coached in 1980 and from 1986-2001)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Hammond (throws); Travis Haselswerdt (distance); Adam Purdy (pole vault); Kristin Stuckart (sprints)
2008 RECORD: 2nd SWC, 2nd Amherst district (Division I), 12th Amherst regional, 29th state
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (25): Kalpana Beach, so. (sprints, high jump); Megan Boland, jr. (sprints); Jenna Daghstani, jr. (throws); Brittany Daniels, so. (middle distance); Megan Davis, jr. (middle distance); Hanna Dixon, sr. (sprints); Megan Dunlap, jr. (distance); Julia Fulton, jr. (middle distance); Schanelle Griggs, sr. (sprints); Natalie Halczuk, jr. (sprints); Alex James, sr. (hurdles, jumps); Maddie Jenkins, so. (distance); Sophia Kopasakis, jr. (distance); Shelly Koski, jr. (hurdles); Bridget McNeill, sr. (throws); Beth Moroney, sr. (middle distance); Grace Pophal, jr. (pole vault); Stephanie Poeppelman (sprints); Lydia Puccini, jr. (pole vault); Kristen Ricker, sr. (pole vault); Grace Samenuk, so. (throws); Sarah Stachowiak, so. (sprints); Liz Stark, sr. (sprints); Julie Wang, jr. (distance, jumps); Ashle Williams, jr. (throws).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Katie Carroll, fr. (jumps); Kelly Essi, fr. (hurdles); Hayley Smik, fr. (sprints); Charlotte Tate, fr. (distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: McNeill (discus) and Beach (high jump) are returning state qualifiers, both taking fifth at state. Tate (1,600) was ninth at the state indoor meet. Individually, James (long jump) is a two-time regional qualifier. Davis (400) and Dixon (100, long jump) also made regionals last year. Dixon, Stark and Davis made it to regionals as members of the 800- and 1,600-meter relays. Dunlap and Fulton went to regionals in the 3,200 relay.

Amherst Comets

COACH: Rob Glatz (fourth year)
ASSISTANTS: Darline Elsasser (sprints); Michelle Kamczyc (sprints, high jump); Terry Kemp (distance); Monty Parrish (long jump, hurdles); Mike Lugar (sprints, jumps); Alan Roark (pole vault); Mark Valenti (throws)
2008 RECORD: 4th SWC, 5th Amherst district (Division I), 34th Amherst regional
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (15): Brooke Arthur-Mensah, sr. (sprints, long jump); Veronica Arthur-Mensah, jr. (sprints); Jessica Bartholomew, sr. (distance); Alyssa Beach, so. (pole vault); Alyssa Bove, sr. (distance); Abby Burgdorf, jr. (throws); Caitlin Camp, so.; Ann Marie Campbell, so.; Hailey Dziak, so. (sprints, long jump); Abbie Hornyak, jr. (distance); Erica Kelly, jr. (distance); Carrie Kurish, jr. (distance); Jane Lehman, sr. (distance); Kasey Schuler, so. (distance); Katie Schuster, sr. (throws)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Alex Jones, so.; Stacie Loushin, so.; Shannon Theobald, so.
SCOUTING REPORT: Lehman (3,200) finished eighth at the state indoor meet in a school-record 11:45.41. Arthur-Mensah (long jump) is a two-time regional qualifier. Schuler (800) was a regional qualifier as a freshman. Bartholomew (3,200) was a regional qualifier in 2006 and ’08.

Avon Lake Shoregals

COACH: Yvonne Saul-Craigo (third year, fifth overall)
ASSISTANTS: Doug D’Amico (pole vault); Jeff Arra (hurdles); Bob D’Andrea (throws); Rob Juergens (distance); Keith Kauffman (jumps); Tim Stuebner (sprints, hurdles)
2008 RECORD: 7th SWC, 11th Amherst district (Division I)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (12): April Anderson, jr.; Maddie Bauer, sr. (sprints, pole vault); Syndi Becker, sr. (sprints, long jump); Michelle Bottini, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Alyssa Fernald, jr. (distance); Melissa Hayton, sr. (sprints); Bridget Lyons, jr. (throws); Tracy Moor, jr. (distance); Bridget Patten, jr. (sprints); Summer Seiple, so.; Morgan Srail, so. (pole vault); Miranda Weed, jr. (distance)
KEY NEWCOMER: Katy Link, fr. (distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: Weed (1,600) and Srail (pole vault) were regional qualifiers last year. Weed was fourth at the state indoor meet for the 3,200. Srail is a two-time all-state diver. Link was the 2008 SWC cross country champ, a regional qualifier and Lorain County MVP.

Berea Braves

COACH: Roy Moore (sixth year, 26th overall)
ASSISTANTS: Wil Avery (long jump); Bob Butler (throws); Barb Hunter (distance); Bill Price (pole vault); Lauren Sheldon (long jump)
2008 RECORD: 8th SWC, 15th place Amherst district (Division I)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (14): Tiara Bailey, sr. (sprints); Staci Bohannon, so. (sprints, high jump); Megan Gulley, sr. (throws); Kristen Haslett, so. (middle distance); Courtney Herrman, sr. (sprints, high jump); Emily Herwerden, so. (distance); Rachael Kolp, sr. (sprints, long jump); Ashley Kozak, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Sarah Magnani, jr. (sprints, pole vault); Alex Martinson, sr. (sprints, pole vault); Bryell Skinner, sr. (sprints); Sarah Stewart, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Corey Waldron, so. (mid-distance); Meghan Wade, so. (distance)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Elena Camargo, sr. (throws); Sarah Fussner, sr. (throws); Ashley Hart, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Taylor Hinton, jr. (distance); Victoria Jagoda, jr. (throws); Olivia Karp,so. (throws); Alexis Lebron, sr. (throws); Erin Maldonado, so. (jumps); Kylie Mooney, so. (sprints)
SCOUTING REPORT: A good base to work from but the Braves may need some help filling out field events. Twenty-five freshmen should help fill some gaps.

North Olmsted Eagles

COACH: Lisa Pochatek (2nd year, 11th overall)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Arundel (throws); Tom Jenkins (high jump, pole vault); Erika Kleinholz (hurdles); Michelle Sanborn (long jump)
2008 RECORD: 5th SWC, 8th Amherst district (Division I), 21st Amherst regional
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): Mary Bridges, jr. (discus); Meghan Drews, so. (sprints); Vanessa Gut, jr. (middle distance); Tiffany Platko, jr. (pole vault); Morgan Pochatek, sr. (sprints); Kirsten Ressel, jr. (distance); Kayla Richmond, jr. (hurdles); Amanda Taylor, sr. (throws); Melanie Trefny, so. (middle distance); Ann Tomko, sr. (hurdles, jumps)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Alyssa Lawrence, fr. (distance); Khadeja Najjar, fr. (throws); Julia Piros, fr. (hurdles); Lauren Switala, so. (distance); Taylor Timoteo, jr. (sprints, long jump); Kristen Troyer, so. (middle distance, shot put); Holly Veverka, so. (distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: Platko was second at the SWC meet each of the last two years. She is a two-time all-state diver. A 2007 regional qualifier in the 100, Morgan Pochatek is coming back from a broken ankle suffered at last year’s Berea Relays. She also had hip surgery in November 2007. Drews (100, 200) and Bridges (discus) were regional qualifiers last year. Taylor won the 2008 SWC shot put title.

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

COACH: John Novotny (fourth year, fifth overall)
ASSISTANTS: Matt Celaschi (throws); Rory Fabian (sprints); Dave Godfray (pole vault, hurdles); Jeff Kho/Sierra Swanson (distance); Katrina Lallo (high jump); Erika Wyman (sprints, long jump)
2008 RECORD: 6th SWC, 9th Amherst district (Division I), 17th Amherst regional, 29th state
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (16): Alaina Clark, so. (distance); Megan Coughlin, so. (middle distance); Halie Fetterman, sr. (throws); Jackie Griswold, sr. (throws); Alexis Henton, sr. (sprints, middle distance); Megan Johnson, so. (distance); Jessica Jurcak, jr. (hurdles); Taylor Martin, so. (distance); Sarah McClain, so. (sprints, pole vault); Katie Nageotte, sr. (sprints, pole vault); Sarah Radeff, sr. (pole vault); Danya Roberts, so. (sprints, throws); Brittany Snider, sr. (sprints, high jump); Anastasia Souris, so. (sprints, hurdles); Kalie Stallard, sr. (hurdles); Breanne Vedda, jr. (pole vault)
KEY NEWCOMER: Kristan Holland, so. (throws)
SCOUTING REPORT: Nageotte is two-time All-Ohio for pole vault, taking second last year. Snider (high jump) is a two-time state qualifier (2006-07). Henton (400) and Griswold (discus) were regional qualifiers in 2007.