Coach: Tim Leonard
Key losses: Mt. Vernon girls track and field head coach Tim Leonard says it will be hard to replace Olivia Coleman, who owns multiple school records and was the top scoring track athlete in the history of Mt. Vernon High School. Coleman is now running at IPFW.
In addition, Mt. Vernon lost Morgan Hayes, who is running for Marian College, and Aubri Benbow, who is the school record-holder in the 300-meter low hurdles.
Key returnees: Chelsie Foster, a senior, runs the 800- and 1,600-meter. Riley Chambers, a junior, is a regional qualifier in the shot put. Meg Schleter, a junior, runs sprints and competes in the pole vault. Alexa Christenson, a junior, competes as a sprinter and hurdler. Alexis Franklin, a sophomore, is a sprinter and hurdler. Kiara Gibson, sophomore, runs in the sprints.
Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Hannah Watson (400- and 800-meter), freshman Addison Cullom (distance) and freshman Regan Woodruff (distance).
Outlook: Leonard says the 2016 season will be a “new chapter in Mt. Vernon girls track.”
“They must build their own legacy in 2016. Our biggest improvement from 2015 to 2016 is the elimination of PTP and giving our track program a full coaching staff,” Leonard said. “This was accomplished by the efforts of superintendent, Dr. Shane Robbins, the MVCSC School Board and Athletic Director Brandon Ecker.”
A year ago, Mt. Vernon’s sprinters gained experience and Leonard expects them to be mentally tougher this season.
Throwers Cameron McClure, a senior; Riley Chambers and Katelyn Kiphart, both juniors and sophomore Bethany Nuckols are all back.
“We are looking for them to be a big part of our scoring this season,” Leonard said.
Despite the losses to graduation, Leonard said the goals remain the same.
“We always want to be competitive in every meet. Our No. 1 goal is to always run, jump, throw and compete to the best of our ability and have fun doing it,” Leonard said. “We always want to finish in the top 4 teams or higher in our big meets.
“Our big meet schedule is not easy with the Noblesville Invite, Pendleton Heights Invite, Kokomo Relays, Hancock County Meet, Hoosier Heritage Conference, Pendleton Heights Sectional and Ben Davis Regional.”
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Saturday: Hoosier State Relays qualifier at Indiana Weslyan, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 15: at Greenfield-Central vs. Frankton, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 26: Hoosier State Relays at Purdue University, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 30: vs. Fishers, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5: at Yorktown, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, April 15: at Franklin Central, 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 16: at Terre Haute Invitational, 10 a.m.
Monday, April 18: at Richmond, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26: at Noblesville Invitational, 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 30: at Kokomo Relays, 11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 4: Hancock County Meet at Greenfield-Central, 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 12: Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet at Mt. Vernon, 5:30 p.m.
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