Friday, March 30, 2001
Cincinnati girls track preview
Colerain should be first out of the blocks
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Coach Ron Russo's Colerain girls expected to dominate the area in girls track this season with six or seven others contesting for the No.2 position.
“This year, you'll see a more balanced Colerain team,” coach Russo said. “We have several outstanding freshmen sprinters, some good hurdlers and several middle distance runners.”
Couple this with the Cardinals' strength and depth in the distance events and it's easy to understand why Russo is optimistic.
Five cross country standouts, Andrea Maas, Terie Littlepage, Alison Bedingfield, Shelly Dickinson and Jennifer Limle, will score well in the distance events.
Sprinter Alysa Croxton will be joined by four potentially strong freshmen (Kelly Shepard, Monica Harris, LaShonda Lemmons, Megan Clifton) while Ayisha Kinamore will handle hurdles.
“We have some great balance and good kids,” Russo said. “Alysa (Croxton) has signed with UC and will also be strong in the long jump.”
2. Walnut Hills: Blessed with a strong corp of sprinters, the Eagles will fly high if the distance runner and throwers (discus, shot put) come through.
Coach Karl Kaufmann will build the team around junior sprinters Amanda Mullins-Hall and Tamara Fennell with Katie Antle expected to score in the shot put.
“Amanda was fourth in the hurdles at state last year,” Kaufmann said. “Tamara qualified for state in the 100 meters and was fifth in the consolation heat.”
Kaufmann also looks for Anna Sofranko (1,600 and 3,200 meters) and Erica White (100 and 200 meters) to contribute.
3. Amelia: Although the Barons lack depth, coach Rick McMullen's team has some quality athletes who will score well.
Juniors Kristin Votapek, Jennifer Lovell and Emily Shields, along with senior Robyn Davidson and sophomore April Branscum give the Barons a strong group of sprinters.
“This year's team will reload with a strong freshman class that is expected to fill some vacancies,” McMullen said. “We should be very competitive again.”
In the distance events, Amelia will feature sophomores Brittany Lynn and Kristen Ell, junior Tiffany Marsh, Joanna Forbes and all-purpose runner Jenna Brown.
Also look for Danielle Huguenard (shot put), Terry Peach (discus) to do well in their respective events.
3. Lakota East: The duo of Division I state cross country champion Lindsay Zinn and Jaime Wyckoff are the foundation for veteran coach Jason Lindsey.
Look for Allison Simpson (sprints), Andrea Reeves (1,600) and Hannah Huckins to score for a deep Thunderhawks team.
4. Mount Notre Dame: The Cougars are favored to repeat as Girls Greater Cincinnati League champions and for good reason.
Second-year coach Kelvin Kelley will build the team around state qualifiers Jen Osborne (400 meter and long jump) and Anna Wines (800 and 400 meters).
High jumper Laura Eppstein also is expected to score well for a deep, but young Cougars team.
5. Mount Healthy: It's been six years since the Owls fielded a team with enough talent to crack the Top 10.
Veteran coach Terry Kiger is optimistic this will be one of the better teams in the past 10 years.
“Our numbers are much better than in the past,” Kiger said. “We'll be strong in the 400 and down and in most of the field events. Our weaknesses will be in the distance events.”
April Simmons (hurdles), Elizabeth Houston (sprints), Antionette Thomas (sprints), Keshia Brewer (hurdles) and Rosanna Taylor (relays) are the top returning performers.
6. Mercy: A young team with only two seniors, Mercy could challenge Mount Notre Dame for the Girls Greater Cincinnati League championship while also moving up in the poll.
Senior Jenni Leesman, fifth at the state meet in the shot put, also stand out in the discus and will be one of the Bobcats best scorers.
Distance specialist Sarah Rodenbeck, the GGCL cross country runner of the year, is also expected to perform well along with freshman high jumper Melissa Rieder, who's sister, Jackie, was a state qualifier in the relays.
Three-sport standout Melissa Clavier (hurdles), Emily Dietrich (400, 800), Betsy Maly (hurdles, long jump), Gwen Welsh (800, high jump) and Jenny Kroner (800, 1600) gives the Bobcats outstanding depth.
“The only weakness is that we are young,” coach Carol Giordano said. “We had winning records the past six years and this group is determined with good work ethic.”
7. McNicholas: The Rockets might get off to a slow start because of the success of the basketball team (Division II state champions).
Basketball players Kendra Hornschemeier (hurdles and relay) and Betsey Clark (sprints) will anchor a team that also features Amy Morsch (400, 800), Sammy Lammert (distance) and Angela Daniel (sprints).
“The seniors who graduated scored half of our points last year,” coach Dan Rosenbaum said. “We've won sixth straight GGCL championships and have athletes with a lot of potential.”
8. Wilmington: The Hurricanes were undefeated during the regular season in 2000 and field an even stronger team this year.
Purdue-bound senior Desiree Jones, a state qualifier in the 100 and 300 hurdles, long jump and high jump, heads a roster loaded with talent.
Coach Roger Ilg also is counting on seniors Stephanie Butler, Karen Schumaker, Tara Williams and Jennifer Webb along with sophomores Betse Johnson and Ashley Johnson.
“We're strong in the sprints, relays and field events,” Ilg said. “The middle distance and distance events are our weaknesses.”
9. Harrison: First-year coach Roger Osborne inherited a team with several outstanding athletes with the potential to score well as the season progresses.
“We have 34 girls out for the team which makes for good competition,” Osborne said. “The work ethic is great and we have good speed and experience.”
Shelly Ruberg (100 meters) is the top returning performer, but look for veterans Sarah Hoerst, Pam Pahls, Ashley McGuffy, Jamie Buck, Terri Barnes, Jenn Kleiner, Betsey Hall, Lauren St. Pierre and Jacqueline Kinnemeyer to score well.
10. Mason: Tamika Barkley (shot put), Melanie Moore (long jump) and Marna Georgievsky (800) will lead an unproven Comets team loaded with outstanding athletes.
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Cincinnati girls track preview
