CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Eastern Hancock girls track and field team enters the outdoor season with a small roster and its third different head coach in as many three years.
They still plan on building off of last season’s success.
“It’s been going pretty well. We have a smaller team so we’re able to give a little more attention to everybody. We’ve been working really hard,” first-year head coach Josh Steele, who replaced former coach Pat Echeverria, said. “I was hired late in the process so we didn’t get a full offseason of work but the kids have been really excited for the season and have been putting in the work, so we’re looking to make some noise this year.”
On Saturday at the Nike Hoosier State Relays — the unofficial Indiana High School Indoor State Championships — they proved just that and look to be heading into the outdoor season with plenty of momentum.
Top placers at the HSR, Ellie Meyer and Bella Sotelo, will look to lead the way for the Royals.
Meyer, who placed third in the high jump (5-feet, 2-inches) on Saturday, is coming off the most successful girls track and field season in recent years.
A jack-of-all-trades for the Royals during the regular season, she really shined in her main event, the high jump.
She was a Hancock County champion and was the school’s first girls state qualifier since 2016. Her height of 5-feet, 5-inches at the regional was a personal best, and she ended the season jumping 5-feet, 2-inches for 23rd place at state.
“Ellie picked up right where she left off last year. She’s been very diligent about making sure she’s getting her drills and work in,” Steele said. “Because she’s found so much success there, primarily high jump will be her main event but she’s so competitive and we want to compete so she’s ready to run and do whatever we need her to do, and we aren’t going to hold her back.”
Sotelo, a freshman, was runner-up at the HSR (9.17 seconds) in the 60-meter hurdles and holds the Eastern Hancock middle school record in the 200-meter hurdles with a time of 29.35 seconds.
She’ll look to continue that success in the outdoor season.
“Bella is a tremendous athlete. Anything you put her in she has a tendency to do pretty well. Plus, she’s very dedicated and very coachable to what she’s doing,” Steele said. “She’s definitely going to set some records this season and should have a good year ahead of her.”
Along with those two, the Royals return Mid-Eastern Conference champion and regional qualifier Sydney Springman.
The senior had the top time in both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles at the conference meet and advanced to regional in the 100.
Ellie’s sister, Heidi Meyer, looks to make up for the graduation of conference champion and regional qualifier Sydney Hayes in the throwing events.
“That family must have some natural talent,” Steele said. “Heidi has shown that she can step in and fill that role and have some good throws this year.”
Senior Alexandria Saavedra is expected to be a key participant in the long jump, junior Megan Adkins will be a sprinter and long jumper for the Royals, sophomores Kaylee Swan and Samantha Wheeler are both expected to play a role in various events for the team, and freshman Clara Wallace enters her first high school season as a middle school conference champion in 1600.
The outdoor season begins at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Tri-Central.
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2024 Eastern Hancock Girls Track and Field Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
March 26;at Tri-Central;4:30 p.m.
April 9;New Castle/Greenfield-Central/Scecina;5:30 p.m.
April 11;at Centerville/Union County;5 p.m.
April 17;at North Decatur/South Decatur;5 p.m.
April 20;at Guerin Catholic Invite;10 a.m.
April 23;vs. Richmond;6 p.m.
April 25;Eastern Hancock Invitational;5:30 p.m.
May 1;Hanock Co. Meet (at Mt. Vernon);5 p.m.
May 7;vs. Triton Central;5 p.m.
May 10;Mid-Eastern Conference Meet (at Monroe Central);5 p.m.
May 14;at Pendleton Heights Sectional;5:30 p.m.
