With dual meet action kicking off this week, we take a quick look at each of the LebCo Girls Track & Field programs and what to expect in 2024.
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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Caitlin Heller – 1st season
Key Returners: Megan Brophy (Sr.); Emily Maag (Sr.); Emily Shuey (Sr.); Colbey Brown (Jr.); Sophia Caporaletti (Jr.); Kendall Cooper (Jr.); Miracle Hershey (Jr.); Kya Missimer (Jr.); Audrey Sider (Jr.); Madi Long (So.); Caitlin Shay (So.); Mackenzie Stellmach (So.)
Key Newcomers: Ainsley Sellers (Sr.); Ashlyn Shaak (Sr.); Dana Hoover (Fr.); Nora Hoover (Fr.); Jada Morales (Fr.); Addison Sanchez (Fr.)
Key Losses: Claire Hoover, Nory Mitchell, Sage Sherk, Sarah Speraw
2023 Record: 6-1 overall, 6-1 in Section 3, District 3 AA Champions
Outlook: In 2023, the Dutchmen won their first District 3 Championship since 1986 when Coach Sue Felty was starring for the Annville. Now a volunteer, Felty turns over the reins to Coach Caitlin Heller to lead the program. The excellent news for Heller, who recently won a State Championship with the Annville-Cleona Boys Cross Country team, is that many of the key pieces from last year’s District 3 Championship team are back. The sprints are led by juniors Kendall Cooper and Miracle Hershey, a New Covenant co-op student. Annville will also pack quite a punch in the middle distance and distance events, with sophomore Mackenzie Stellmach and seniors Megan Brophy and Emily Maag looking to build on last year’s success. Other solid point-scoring options for Annville include Kya Missimer (hurdles), Emily Shuey (jumps), Caitlin Shay (pole vault), and Madi Long (jumps).
Unfortunately, the Dutchmen will be without senior sprinter Grace Francis and sophomore thrower Ava Hoover, who will each miss the season due to injury. On a more positive note, joining Annville’s coaching staff this year are former local standouts Reagan Hess (Annville/Slippery Rock), Hannah Woelfling (Cedar Crest/Millersville), and Jenna Uncapher (Hempfield/Clarion).
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Rob Bare – 8th season
Key Returners: Maggie Chernich (Sr.); Hailee Kreiser (Sr.); Lizzie Lowe (Sr.); Maddie Lowe (Sr.); Emma Spittle (Sr.); Shannon Dorsey (Jr.); Audrey Fugate (Jr.); Abigail Gaughan (Jr.); Emma Pavlesich (Jr.); Ava Schreier (Jr.); Ruby Wolfe (Jr.); Camilla Zimmerman (Jr.); Kaddel Howard (So.); Nachali Manon Aquino (So.); Eliana Schneider (So.); Hayden Wamsher (So.); Makenzie Wamsher (So.)
Key Newcomers: Allie Metzgar (Sr.); Susie Hoffman (Jr.); Opeyemi Ojo (Jr.); Breanna Deitzler (Fr.); Mikayla Walmer (Fr.)
Key Losses: Mariah Haggerty, Sophia Rosenberg, Grace Tadajweski, Alyssa Vandett
2023 Record: 5-1 overall, 5-1 in Section 1
Outlook: Last season, the Falcons lost only one meet, which was to a powerhouse McCaskey squad. In 2024, Cedar Crest returns with a much more experienced group of girls that will look to take back the Section 1 Championship. They will be led by Kaddel Howard, the reigning 400m State Champion and District 3 record holder in the event. In addition to Howard, look for Eliana Schneider to shine once again across the spectrum as she is one of the State’s top athletes in the high jump and javelin while also serving as a tremendous distance runner. Lizzie Lowe also returns after being named the LebCo Distance Runner of the Year for her role, joining Howard and Schneider in helping Cedar Crest claim 7th in the 4x800m at States last year. Shannon Dorsey, Hayden Wamsher, and Makenzie Wamsher will continue their development in the hurdles, while Hailee Kreiser (pole vault) and Nachali Manon Aquino (throws) will also be among the top finishers in their events. Under the guidance of Coach Bare, who reminds his athletes daily that they need to “Pay the Rent,” look for this group to flourish in 2024.
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Robert Miller – 16th season
Key Returners: Beckie Dimov (Sr.); Lizzie Dimov (Sr.); Sara Miller (Sr.); Nina Milosevic (Sr.); Chloe Behney (Jr.); Makenna Haas (Jr.); Reece Woelfling (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Ayla Zwally (Jr.); Khloe Fox (Fr.); Ava Seifert (Fr.); Jocelyn Yoder (Fr.)
Key Losses: Carissa Bender (Shippensburg); Jacey Hentz (Mount Saint Mary’s); Sam Nelson (Southern Utah); Isabel Zwally (LVC)
2023 Record: 7-0 overall, 7-0 in Section 3 – Section 3 Champions
Outlook: The ELCO Girls have won five Section 3 Championships and will contend again this season. While they lost two State medalists and a League Champion to graduation, the Raiders return a solid line-up full of talented athletes. Makenna Haas will be one to watch following her 12th-place finish at States in the Triple Jump. Reece Woelfling will join Haas in bringing home points in the sprints and jumps, while Sara Miller will add depth in the sprints, hurdles, and javelin. Look for the Raiders to overcome the losses to graduation and vie for the Section 3 title.
Click here for the Lebco Boys Track & Field Season Outlook
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Tommy Pearson – 3rd season
Key Returners: Zariyah Whigham (Sr.); Liliana Harrison (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Several basketball players to bolster sprints/jumps
Key Losses: Mileyska Calderon (LVC)
2023 Record: 0-6 overall, 0-6 in Section 1
Outlook: Lebanon has been in a tough spot with not having a proper track to train on daily. Last year, it was due to construction. This year, it’s a sinkhole. While these challenges could sink a program, the Cedars have not only preserved but also thrived. Among the success stories was the emergence of Zariyah Whigham, who learned how to Triple Jump without a pit halfway through the season and won the Lancaster Lebanon Championship in the event. While Whigham will look to build on that success, she will be joined in that endeavor by Liliana Harrison, the talented Shot Put/Discus thrower. While they are two starters on the Lebanon Girls Basketball team, they are joined this year by the rest of the starting line-up. While Kailah Correa, Olive Brandt, and Jae Burrus hope to contribute to the scoreboard, their biggest contribution may be spreading the culture of success to aid Coach Pearson’s goal of building a thriving program for Lebanon’s female athletes. While Lebanon has top-end talent that will appear in the postseason, they are still a small team. However, look for the Cedars to push the limits as they challenge their much larger opponents.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Adam Molinaro – 2nd season
Key Returners: Ayva Sechman (Sr.); Isabella Seibert (Sr.); Alana Dry (Jr.); Jade Kasprowicz (Jr.); Mariah Kipp (So.); Jobrianna Long (So.); Brielle McFeaters (So.); Mackenzie Miller (So.); Saoirse Phillips (So.)
Key Newcomers: Isabella Battistelli (Fr.); Saleah Martino (Fr.); Olivia Mathews (Fr.); Shea Moyer (Fr.); Elsie Shuey (Fr.); Olivia Winters (Fr.); Riley Werner (Fr.)
Key Losses: Toccoa Boyer, Alyssa Marlowe, Ash Rich, Sara Rich, Erin Shuey
2023 Record: 3-5 overall, 3-4 in Section 3
Outlook: Northern Lebanon won three meets in Coach Molinaro’s first season. With a larger, more experienced team this season, look for the Vikings to add to their successes. Jobrianna Long will lead them in the Hurdles, while Ayva Sechman continues her development in the Throws. They will also be helped by the continued development of athletes Mac Miller and Saoirse Phillips. Northern Lebanon will also feature a big group of freshmen who can add depth. Look for the Vikings to win several meets this season.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Danny Byrd – 16th season
Key Returners: Abby Berarducci (Sr.); Carmen McConaghy (Sr.); Delaney Miler (Jr.); Sofie Price (Jr.); Avery Rohrer (Jr.); Ellie Schaffer (Jr.); Isabella Temple (So.)
Key Losses: Olivia Appleby, Kaylee Groff, Vanessa Flores, Cali Halbleib, Katie Hartman, Lydia Stoner, Xerena Topos
2023 Record: 5-1 overall, 5-1 in Keystone
Outlook: Palmyra is always tough, and 2024 will not be any different as they will return several key pieces from last year’s team. That said, with a number of seniors graduating, it will take the younger athletes stepping up if the Cougars are going to string together victories. Sofie Price will be worth watching in the Javelin after finishing 18th in the States last year. The Distance crew, led by Abby Berarducci, Avery Rorer, and Ellie Schaffer, will once again be solid. Delaney Miller will lead the Sprints, while Carmen McConaghy and Isabella Temple will continue their development in the Hurdles. There is no doubt that Palmyra has talent on their roster, but the name of the game for Coach Byrd’s team will be depth.
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