Notre Dame gets the nod as the preseason No. 1 in The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky coaches' poll and Scott is No. 2, but the most compelling competition will be between the Nos. 3 and 4 teams, Bishop Brossart and St. Henry.

COACHES POLL

1. Notre Dame (5) 73   2. Scott (1) 69   3. Bishop Brossart (2) 62   4. St. Henry 50   5. Boone County 49   6. Ryle 35   7. Dixie Heights 18   8. Highlands 15   9. Newport CC 11   10. Newport 9   Others: Campbell County 8, Bellevue 7, Conner 6, Lloyd 6, Beechwood 2, Simon Kenton.

        Girls track coach Dave Schuh enters his 21st season at Bishop Brossart with a chance to make state history. Schuh and the Lady 'Stangs have a chance to become the second school to win five straight state titles. Danville holds the state record with six straight from 1983 to 1988. Only two other teams have won four straight, Fort Campbell and Lexington Bryan Station.

        “The last four years we have really got into a rhythm as a team. We have got good athletes to come out for the team, and we have made it enjoyable and at the same time challenging for the girls,” Schuh said. “We put the girls in the situation to have success and when they do, that builds confidence.”

        Bishop Brossart won the Class A state title last season, beating second-place St. Henry 117-75. The Lady 'Stangs won five events at state and return virtually the same team.

        “We lost only one person that scored at state last year, but you don't get points based on what you did in the past,” Schuh said. “We must concentrate on what we can do, everything else is out of our control.”

        Brossart returns a wealth of talent and is an early season-favorite to repeat as Class A state champions. St. Henry and Frankfurt will be the main competition.

        Eight state gold medal winners return from last year. Individual winners Stephanie Clark (800), Jennifer Hartig (pole vault) and Megan Uebel (triple jump) return. Clark also returns to the 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams along with Noelle Bertram (3,200 relay), Staci Bertram (3,200 relay), Jenna Schultz (1,600 relay) and Sarah Smith (1,600 relay).

        “We are pretty proud of what we have accomplished in the past several years but we definitely don't dwell on it,” Schuh said. “We have new people now and they want to continue the success.”

        St. Henry coach Sandy Padgett hopes a strong freshman class coupled with good senior leadership will be enough to push the Crusaders to the top.

        Julie Armstrong returns as the defending 100 hurdles state champion. She also finished second in the 300 hurdles.

        “The past couple of years every race with Brossart has been really close. It usually came down to who outleaned who,” Padgett said. “I think the freshman we have will at least keep us equal with Brossart this year. We should remain competitive.”

        CLASS AA — Newport's Valerie Raisor is the loan returning state champion in AA. Raisor won the shot put as a freshman and is part of a Newport team deep in strenth events. Falisa Williams also returns after finishing fourth in the discus.

        Highlands returns a strong core of girls in the relays. Jessie Barth, Leonor Yocum and Elizabeth Poindexter return from the 3,200 relay team that won the regional last year.

        CLASS AAA — Boone County senior Christen Jones is the top individual runner returning in Northern Kentucky. Jones won the 100-meter dash, finished second in the 200 and third in the 100-meter hurdles at state last season.

        Notre Dame is looking to improve on a strong 1999-2000 campaign. The Pandas were conference champions and regional runner-ups last year and return several key athletes.

        Abby Ochse (long jump), Meghan Crowe (3,200), Monica Averdick (300 hurdles) and Becky Popham (discus) all return after qualifying for state.
       

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