LebCo Girls Track & Field Season Outlook: 2026

The Girls Track & Field season in Lebanon County should bring a strong blend of proven star power and emerging depth this spring. Several of the county’s top athletes are back after big postseason runs, and a number of teams look positioned to build on the momentum they created a year ago.

Cedar Crest, Palmyra, and Annville-Cleona return athletes who have already shown they can deliver on the District and State stage, while Northern Lebanon, ELCO, and Lebanon each bring back enough experience to believe they can keep climbing. Some teams enter the season with established leaders at the top, while others will lean on depth, development, and younger contributors to shape their year.

As always, be sure to check LebCoSports.com throughout the season for updates.

LebCo Boys Track & Field Season Outlook

If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.

For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.

Annville-Cleona Dutchmen 

Lancaster Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Jeff Hartung – 1st season

Key Returners: Madi Long (Sr., Jumps), Mackenzie Stellmach (Sr.), Jada Morales (Jr., Sprints), Anabella Pulaski (Jr., Throwers), Lucy Stellmach (So.)

Rising Contributors: Leah Rotunda (So.), Paige Stoltz (So.), Violet Wenger (So., Throwers), Teige Christiansen (Fr., Sprints), Faith Light (Fr., Sprints), Georgia Sellers (Fr., Sprints)

Key Losses: Kendall Cooper (Saint Joseph’s), Sophia Caporaletti, Miracle Hershey (Waynesburg)

Season Outlook

Annville-Cleona may have some big performances to replace, but there is still plenty coming back for the Dutchmen to build around. The headliner is Mackenzie Stellmach, who won the County Meet and District 3 AA titles in the 3200m and finished 10th at States. She also ran on Annville-Cleona’s 2nd-place 4x800m Relay at Districts, giving the Dutchmen a proven postseason leader in the Distance group.

The relay side also brings back an important piece in Jada Morales, who was part of Annville-Cleona’s District 3 AA champion 4x100m Relay that set a meet record with a 48.63 and later helped the Dutchmen win the 4x400m Relay as well. Lucy Stellmach returns from the 4x800m Relay that placed 2nd at Districts, while Madi Long and Anabella Pulaski give Annville-Cleona more experience in the Jumps and Throws.

That mix gives the Dutchmen a workable foundation even as younger athletes step into larger roles. Stellmach gives them a proven Distance standout, Morales brings back championship relay experience, and there are still enough other returners in place to keep Annville-Cleona competitive while the rest of the lineup develops.

Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League

Section 1

Head Coach: Rob Bare – 32nd season

Key Returners: Carly Atkins (Sr., Mid-Distance), Kaddel Howard (Sr., Sprints), Nachali Manon (Sr., Throws), Jesslyn Risser (Sr., Pole Vault), Hayden Wamsher (Sr., Mid-Distance), Kenzie Wamsher (Sr., Mid-Distance/Hurdles), Vivan Doster (Jr., Distance), Kylie Ollar (Jr., Hurdles), Briannah Rose (Jr., Sprints), Mikalyn Weaber (Sr., Throws), Trinity Young (Jr., Hurdles), Mikayla Walmer (Jr., Sprints), Layla Herbein (So., Jumps), Mikayla Fripps (So., Throws), Sophie Meli (So., Distance), Clara Schneider (So., Distance), Ellie Schnieder (Sr., Jumps/All-Around)

Rising Contributors: Emma Kline (Sr., Mid-Distance), Ryan Stopper (So., Sprints), Miley Bowers (Fr., Sprints), Addison Kline (Fr., Mid-Distance), Sophie Musser (Fr., Distance)

Key Losses: Audrey Fugate, Emma Pavlesich

Season Outlook

Cedar Crest heads into 2026 with one of the strongest returning groups in the area after going 4-2 and winning the Lebanon County championship last spring. The Falcons again start with Kaddel Howard, who owns multiple PIAA State titles in the 400m and added another last spring in 54.37 after running a 53.12 in prelims. Howard also won another District 3 title while breaking her own meet record with a 53.95, enters the year committed to the University of Florida. Coming off record setting performances during the indoor season that resulted in her running away with the Nike National Championship, Howard now has the chance to finish her high school career undefeated in the 400m after winning the event each of the last three seasons.

There is major returning star power around her as well. Ellie Schnieder returns after helping Cedar Crest win the District 3 title in the 4x800m Relay, placing 5th in the High Jump at Districts, and finishing among the top throwers in the State in the Javelin before going on to win a New Balance Outdoor national title. Schnieder also enters the season committed to the University of Virginia.

Cedar Crest also brings back strong depth throughout the lineup. Kenzie Wamsher returns as another experienced postseason athlete in the Hurdles and Mid-Distance events. Twin sister Hayden Wamsher was set to be another big piece, but an injury sustained during XC will limit her participation this season.  Even with her absence, the depth of the Falcons and a proven track record of championship-meet relay experience should allow them to adjust.

Carly Atkins, Jesslyn Risser, Mikalyn Weaber, Kylie Ollar, and Trinity Young help give the Falcons balance across multiple event areas. Weaber also enters the season committed to Monmouth University. Add in returners like Vivan Doster, Clara Schneider, Layla Herbein, Sophie Meli, Briannah Rose, and Mikayla Walmer, and Cedar Crest again looks like a team with both top-end firepower and the depth to make another serious run this spring.

ELCO Raiders  

Lancaster Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Robert Miller – 18th season

Key Returners: Bre Etherson (Sr., Hurdles), Kenzi Eckhart (Sr., Throws), Ava Seifert (Jr., Mid-Distance), Seyitan Adewale (So., Jumps), Addi Mays (So., Hurdles/Jumps), Maddie Nelson (So., Sprints)

Rising Contributors: Riley Keener (So., Mid Distance),Kierra Sholl (So., Sprints/Jumps), Ava Stewart (So., Sprints/Jumps),  

Key Losses: Makenna Haas

Season Outlook

There is a lot for ELCO to like about its returning group entering the 2026 season. Even with a major graduation loss, the Raiders still bring back enough athletes with experience and postseason background to believe they can stay competitive.

That starts with Bre Etherson, who qualified for Districts in both the 100m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles, along with Kenzi Eckhart and Ava Seifert, who return as experienced pieces in the Throws and Mid-Distance events. ELCO also has younger athletes back who could take on bigger roles, including Addi Mays, Seyitan Adewale, and Maddie Nelson, giving the Raiders sophomore depth in the Hurdles, Jumps, and Sprints.

There are also more contributors who could emerge as the season goes on. Ava Stewart and Riley Keener are among the names to watch, and that kind of returning depth should help ELCO spread points across several event areas.

If the younger group continues to develop around its returning District-level athletes, the Raiders should have a chance to put together another solid season.

Lebanon Cedars

LancasterLebanon League

Section 1

Head Coach: Keith Rolon – 2nd season

Key Returners: Olive Brandt (Sr., Hurdles/Jumps), Natalina Harrison (Jr., Jumps), Cayleigh Shaak (Sprints/Jumps), Joannielys Arenas (Sprints), Luisa Olaya Ortegon (Jumps)

Rising Contributors: Nina Lampkin (Fr., Throws), Nikauri Lozano

Key Losses: Liliana Harrison

Season Outlook

Lebanon’s girls team enters the 2026 season with the same long-term focus that helped drive progress a year ago. Last season, 96 percent of the roster improved either in-season or in career personal bests, and the Cedars will look to build on that standard again this spring.

The returning group includes athletes with experience in several event areas, led by Olive Brandt in the Hurdles and Jumps and Nina Harrison in the Jumps. Cayleigh Shaak, Joannielys Arenas, and Luisa Olaya Ortegon also give Lebanon returning pieces in the Sprints and field events, helping create a base for the team as it continues to develop.

Numbers should help as well, with 60 girls on the roster to begin the season. Nina Lampkin is one of the younger athletes to watch in the Throws, and the overall goal remains steady improvement over the course of the season.

With experience back in several areas and a large roster to work with, Lebanon has a foundation to continue moving forward.

Northern Lebanon Vikings

Lancaster-Lebanon League

Section 3

Head Coach: Adam Molinaro – 4th season

Key Returners: Johbrianna Long (Sr.), Mariah Kipp (Sr.), Mackenzie Miller (Sr.), Saoirse Phillips (Sr.), Ella Carpenter (Jr.), Sara Feagley (Jr.), Olivia Matthews (Jr.), Selah Martino (Jr.), Shea Moyer (Jr.), Hope Shaffer (Jr.), Maura Grubb (So.), Emily Marinkov (So.), Emma Yordy (So.), Zoey Bouchard, Haylee Mullen, Elsie Shuey

Rising Contributors: Kasey Weimer, Lia Almer, Chloe Seyfert (So.), Reminisce Perez (So.), Aubri Frederick, Alanna Lawson-Lander (Fr.), Ava Steiner, Natalie Shilling, Emily Weimer (Fr.)

Season Outlook

Northern Lebanon’s girls team has plenty of reason to feel encouraged heading into 2026. After losing just 1 senior and seeing both the quality and quantity of the roster improve, the Vikings bring back nearly all of their top point scorers and appear set up to take a step forward.

A good place to start is with Johbrianna Long, who placed 3rd in the 100m Hurdles at the County Meet and also contributed to Northern Lebanon’s 4x100m Relay. She gives the Vikings a proven county-level athlete to build around. Around her, Mariah Kipp, Mackenzie Miller, and Saoirse Phillips provide senior leadership, while Ella Carpenter, Sara Feagley, Olivia Matthews, Selah Martino, and Shea Moyer give Northern Lebanon a strong returning junior group.

That depth should matter as the season unfolds. Maura Grubb, Emily Marinkov, and Emma Yordy add more returning help, and the Vikings also have younger contributors who could strengthen the lineup as they gain experience.

With most of the core back and the roster trending in the right direction, Northern Lebanon should have a chance to improve its overall league position and push more athletes toward District competition.

Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference

Keystone Division

Head Coach: Danny Byrd – 18th season

Key Returners: Shayla Carl (Sr., Throws), Cala Hipple (Sr., Sprints/Discus), Bella Owens (Sr., Long Jump/Triple Jump/Sprints), Helena Baker (Jr., Hurdles), Ella Stuart (Jr., Sprints), Maddy Waldron (Jr., Sprints)

Key Losses:  Amber McCurdy, Delaney Miller, Elaina Potter, Sofie Price (Youngstown State), Julia Sattele

Season Outlook

There is still a strong veteran backbone in place for Palmyra after last year’s undefeated Mid Penn Keystone Championship season. The Cougars return one of their top postseason pieces in Maddy Waldron, who finished 6th in the 200m at Districts, later earned a State Meet spot, and enters the season committed to Shippensburg University.

Palmyra also has quality experience around her. Cala Hipple, Shayla Carl, and Bella Owens give the Cougars experienced seniors across the Sprints, Throws, and Jumps, while Helena Baker and Ella Stuart return as juniors in the Hurdles and 400m. That gives Palmyra a nice mix of event coverage and veteran leadership heading into the spring.

There are important losses to account for, but the bigger picture is that the Cougars still have enough proven talent back to stay relevant. With Waldron returning as a State qualifier and a solid core around her, Palmyra has a strong enough foundation to stay competitive in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division and chase more postseason opportunities.