FORTVILLE — The group that should be the team’s best is the group the new coach knows the best.
Lydgia Palmer, who was head coach of the Mt. Vernon girls cross country team in the fall, is now the program’s new girls track and field coach.
She has plenty of familiar faces to work with in her initial year as coach of the defending Hancock County and Hoosier Heritage Conference champions.
Sophomore Hannah Hauser (1600-meter run) and senior Emma Gasiorek (800-meter run) are returning county champions. Both were part of the county and conference champion 4×800 relay team along with junior Emma Gale, sophomore Kenydi Russell (county) and junior Tenley Benz (conference).
Hauser was a sectional runner-up in the 1600 and Gasiorek placed fourth in the 800. Junior Julia Iserloth is back after a fifth-place finish in last year’s sectional 3200 race. Lillian Quinn was fifth in the 1600.
Freshmen Brooklyn Harris, Kendall Cagnet, and Mikella Rentfrow add to the strong group.
Palmer believes with the distance races (800, 1600, 3200 and 3200 relay) her team can score a lot of points.
“I have enough people to put multiple strong runners in each of the events, which is good news,” Palmer said.
It’s not just the distance group that should be strong.
A year ago, depth keyed team titles in the county and conference meets.
Most of those competitors are back, but Mt. Vernon will miss graduated all-state pole vaulter Riley Nielsen, sprint standout Mya Eppert, high jumper/hurdler Chloe Wingham, and postseason point-scorers in Khloe Patterson (long jump) and Jayla Trimble (throws).
Ani’ya Williams and Molly Worth lead the sprinters. Williams had a sixth-place finish in the 200 and seventh-place finish in the 100 in last year’s sectional. Worth was fifth in the 200 and part of the runner-up 4×400 relay team along with Hauser, Gasiorek and Marissa Miner.
Only a sophomore, Miner should also be a strong performer in the hurdles and possibly the long jump.
“We’re going to have to make up in the field events (with our graduations), but I am really excited for some of the new faces we have,” Palmer said.
Elaina Moore, who followed Nielsen in the pole vault with a third-place finish at conference and fifth at sectional, is back for her senior year. Russell, who is part of the distance group, has also added pole vaulting to her schedule.
Ayana Moore, a sixth-place finisher in last year’s sectional shot put competition, will lead the throwers along with newcomer Alonah Savage, who threw over 30-feet in her first attempt at the shot.
More field event help comes from senior Laurel Hoeppner, who should be the team’s top high jumper.
“I think we have a solid underclassmen roster paired with some very strong upperclassmen leaders,” Palmer added. “I’m really impressed with the group all around.
“[We’re] trying to have some fun, work hard and be competitive.”
The Marauders will not have anyone in Saturday’s indoor state finals. Their attention is on the outdoor season that will begin March 28 with a home meet against Horizon Christian School.
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2024 Mt. Vernon Girls Track and Field Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
March 28;vs. Horizon Christian;5:30 p.m.
April 2;at Greenwood/Roncalli;5:30 p.m.
April 6;at Terre Haute North Invitational;10 a.m.
April 9;vs. Southport;5:30 p.m.
April 13;at Marion Relays;11 a.m.
April 17;at Noblesville Invitational;5:30 p.m.
April 19;at Bishop Chatard Invitational;5 p.m.
April 23;at Pendleton Heights Invitational;5 p.m.
April 27;at Kokomo Relays;11:30 a.m.
May 1;Hancock Co. Meet (at MV);5 p.m.
May 7;HHC Meet (at MV);5:30 p.m.
May 14;at Pendleton Heights Sectional;5:30 p.m.
